Project set up to address plastic in seas
‘One of the most pressing issues in marine ecosystems of our time’ is being addressed in a project launched by the IMO.
A project to try to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has been launched by UN entities and the private sector.
The GloLitter Partnerships project will aim to tackle ’one of the most pressing issues in marine ecosystems of our time’, says the IMO, which has launched the scheme under a new Global Industry Alliance.
It is an alliance of the Norwegian government, International Maritime Organisation and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
”Plastic waste has reached all the world’s oceans, fuelled by approximately 8 million additional pieces of plastic pollution finding their way into the seven seas every single day,” says NTNU Oceans, part of the Norwegian University of Science and technoloogy.
”From macroplastics to microplastics, to chemicals leaching from the plastics, it is all a threat to reaching the goals set out in UN Sustainability Goal 14 for a healthy and sustainable ocean.”
Key goals set out include helping developing countries to prevent and reduce marine litter, especially plastic, within transport and fisheries sectors and identify how to reduce the use of plastics in both industries.
”GloLitter will expand government and port management capacities, instigate legal, policy and institutional reforms at the country level,” the organisation says. ”The project will develop mechanisms for sustainability, and enhance regional cooperation to support transition of maritime transport and fisheries sectors towards a low plastics future.”
Collecte Localisation Satellites, Wilhelmsen Ships Service Marine Products, Vow ASA, Aker Biomarine, and Container Overboard System are also on board with the project.
