This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
Published on June 12, a report by the International Resource Panel (IRP) highlights the urgent need for a global approach to tackle the issue of ocean plastic pollution.
The report, led by researchers from the University of Portsmouth, was commissioned by the G20 to assess policy options to deliver the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, which aims to reduce additional marine plastic litter entering the ocean to zero by 2050.
According to the report, the annual discharge of plastic into the ocean is estimated to be 11 million tonnes, with current government and industry commitments expected to reduce marine plastic litter by only 7% in 2040 compared to business as usual.
Professor Steve Fletcher, a member of the IRP Panel and author of the report, emphasized the need for a systemic approach, stating, 'It's time to stop isolated changes where you have country after country doing random things that on the face of it are good but actually don't make any difference at all.'
Professor Fletcher also highlighted the issue of 'green washing,' where countries implement policies that appear to address the problem but lack meaningful impact due to a lack of collection processes, recycling systems, and market demand for recycled plastics.
The report makes several recommendations, including the need for policy targets to be shaped on a global scale but rolled out nationally, and the encouragement of actions that reduce marine plastic litter, such as moving from linear to circular plastic production and consumption.
Other key recommendations include supporting innovation to transition to a circular plastics economy, establishing an independent program to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of plastics policies, regulating the international trade in plastic waste, and utilizing COVID-19 recovery stimulus packages to support the delivery of the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.
