Restoring ecosystems through reducing marine plastic pollution

Today the UN marks World Environment Day to encourage awareness and action to protect our environment.

This year’s focus is on ecosystem restoration, and the urgency of revivaling of ecosystems worldwide to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Reducing marine plastic pollution is an important part of restoring degraded ecosystems. Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth. They regulate our climate, generate oxygen, harbour biodiversity and constitue key economic sectors.

Marine littering is a tremendous problem and urgent threat to the health of our oceans. It threatens marine life, food safety, the health of humans and ocean related tourism. It is also a major contributor to climate change.

Between 8 and 12 million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans each year. In order to keep the oceans healthy, marine plastic pollution and micro plastic must be significantly reduced.

To help address this challenge, CLOCC and our partners work to improve waste management in countries where significant amounts of unmanaged plastic enter the oceans through rivers and waterways.

We hope that through this approach we can reduce marine littering and help restore marine ecosystems.

Photo: Thomas Vimare, Unsplash