022 - Stopping the global plastic pollution crisis in marine environments by 2030
022 - Stopping the global plastic pollution crisis in marine environments by 2030
ALARMED by the presence of plastic waste in the marine environment on a global scale;
NOTING WITH CONCERN the impact of plastic waste pollution on the marine and coastal environment, and on the ways of life, health, economy and well-being of coastal communities;
NOTING that the production of plastic in the world has been constantly rising for decades and already vastly exceeds collection and management capacities, and that production is due to increase by 40% over the next 15 years;
FURTHER NOTING that the predominant throwaway model means that over 75% of the plastics ever produced to date are waste, notably because the price of plastic on the market does not represent all of the costs of its lifecycle to nature or society;
NOTING that lost and abandoned fishing gear constitutes a source of plastic pollution in the oceans that causes significant harm;
NOTING WITH CONCERN the increasing number of scientific studies and analyses highlighting the presence of plastic waste, notably in the form of microplastics, in the remotest and deepest parts of the ocean, as well as in the entire food chain;
HIGHLIGHTING the lack of complete information in the medium and long term on the potential dangers of plastic pollution, both physical and chemical, to marine fauna and flora and also to human health, which does not prevent the need for actions based on the best available data;
NOTING that all stakeholders can take important actions in order to prevent plastic pollution and the problem of plastic waste in nature;
RECALLING the ‘Osaka Blue Ocean Vision’ shared at the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit, which aims to reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050 through a comprehensive life-cycle approach that includes reducing the discharge of mismanaged plastic litter by improved waste management and innovative solutions, while recognising the important role of plastics for society; and
RECALLING Resolution 4/6 of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) on marine litter and microplastics, and Sustainable Development Goal 14.1
1. ASKS the Director General, according to the IUCN Programme 2021–2024, and Members to take action and to encourage the implementation of the measures detailed below;
2. URGES the Commissions to collaborate with Members on raising public awareness and promoting innovative solutions to preventing marine plastic pollution;
3. ASKS the international community to reach a global agreement to combat marine plastic pollution, in order to:
a. ensure resource efficiency and circular economy through the elimination of unnecessary production and use of plastic, in particular single-use items, and through the promotion of innovation along the entire value chain, facilitating responsible management of plastic waste and scrap and stopping leakage in nature and in the oceans;
b. promote responsible management of single-use plastic waste and scrap that prevents its leakage into the environment;
c. invest in environmentally sound plastic waste collection and recycling and disposal systems, based on separate collection of plastic waste and recycling in the first instance, and other forms of recovery, prevention and alternatives to plastic, where recycling of environmentally sound plastic waste is not possible, taking into account all their impacts on the environment;
d. introduce measures that take appropriate national actions for the prevention and significant reduction of discharges of plastic litter to the ocean, in partnership with relevant stakeholders;
e. work with other international efforts, including the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, New Plastics Economy, Consumer Goods Forum Plastics Working Group and Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership, to improve knowledge of the sources of plastics and their impact on the environment, and particularly on biodiversity and human health;
f. carry out public-awareness measures aimed at sustainable consumption and improved waste management; and
g. mobilise technical and financial support to facilitate implementation of these actions.
