Honolulu (USA) / Nairobi,
25 March 2011 - Government representatives,
major industries and leading marine researchers
have come together to make a new set of
commitments to tackle the widespread problem
of debris in the world's seas and oceans.
Despite decades of efforts
to prevent and reduce marine debris, such
as discarded plastic, abandoned fishing
nets and industrial waste, there is evidence
that the problem continues to grow. A lack
of co-ordination between global and regional
programmes, deficiencies in the enforcement
of existing regulations and unsustainable
consumption and production patterns have
aggravated the problem.
By bringing together
experts from some 35 countries, governments,
research bodies, corporations including
the Coca-Cola Company, and trade associations
such as Plastics Europe, the Fifth International
Marine Debris Conference resulted in new
commitments and partnerships to address
the issue of marine debris at global, national
and local levels.
A key outcome of the
conference, which was co-organised by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and held in Honolulu,
Hawaii from 20 to 25 March 2011, the Honolulu
Commitment marks a new, cross-sectoral approach
to help reduce the occurrence of marine
debris, as well as the extensive damage
it causes to marine habitats, the global
economy, biodiversity and the risks posed
to human health.
The Commitment encourages
sharing of technical, legal and market-based
solutions to reduce marine debris, improving
local and regional understanding of the
scale and impact of the problem and advocating
the improvement of waste management worldwide.
"Marine debris
- trash in our oceans - is a symptom of
our throw-away society and our approach
to how we use our natural resources. It
affects every country and every ocean, and
shows us in highly visible terms the urgency
of shifting towards a low carbon, resource
efficient Green Economy as nations prepare
for Rio+20 in 2012," said United Nations
Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive
Director Achim Steiner in a message to conference
delegates. "The impact of marine debris
today on flora and fauna in the oceans is
one that we must now address with greater
speed," added Mr. Steiner
"However, one community
or one country acting in isolation will
not be the answer. We need to address marine
debris collectively across national boundaries
and with the private sector, which has a
critical role to play both in reducing the
kinds of wastes that can end up in the world's
oceans, and through research into new materials.
It is by bringing all these players together
that we can truly make a difference,"
said Mr. Steiner.
The Commitment marks
the first step in the development of a comprehensive
global platform for the prevention, reduction
and management of marine debris, to be known
as the Honolulu Strategy.
This document - currently
being developed by conference delegates,
UNEP, NOAA and international marine debris
experts - will aim to provide a strategic
framework for co-ordinated action plans
to prevent, reduce and manage sources of
marine debris. The Strategy will be finalised
following the conference.
"This conference
comes at a critical time for our world"
said Monica Medina, NOAA's Principal Deputy
Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.
"The oceans and coasts are facing a
multitude of stressors, including marine
debris, that lead to consequences that have
both ecosystem and economic impacts. It
is vitally important to bring together people
committed to these issues to share ideas,
develop partnerships and move us all a step
closer to the changes that are badly needed
for our oceans and coasts."
Marine debris: risks
to livelihoods, wildlife and human health
The impacts of marine
debris are far-reaching, with serious consequences
for marine habitats, biodiversity, human
health and the global economy.
At least 267 marine
species worldwide are affected by entanglement
in or ingestion of marine debris, including
86 percent of all sea turtles species, 44
percent of all seabird species and 43 percent
of all marine mammal species.
There is growing concern
over the potential impact on human health
of toxic substances released by plastic
waste in the ocean. Small particles (known
as 'microplastics') made up of disintegrating
plastic items or lost plastic pellets used
by industry, may accumulate contaminants
linked to cancer, reproductive problems
and other health risks. Scientists are studying
whether these contaminants can enter the
food chain when microplastics are ingested
by marine animals.
Accumulated debris on
beaches and shorelines can have a serious
economic impact on communities that are
dependent on tourism.
Marine debris may house
communities of invasive species which can
disrupt marine habitats and ecosystems.
Heavy items of marine debris can damage
habitats such as coral reefs and affect
the foraging and feeding habits of marine
animals.
Surfing for Solutions
in Hawaii
One of the key themes
to emerge from the Fifth International Marine
Debris Conference was the need to improve
global waste management.
The Honolulu Strategy
will outline several approaches for the
reduction of marine debris, including prevention
at land- and sea-based sources, and the
need to see waste as a resource to be managed.
It will also call for public awareness campaigns
on the negative impacts of improper waste
disposal on our seas and oceans - targeting
street litter, illegal dumping of rubbish
and poorly-managed waste dumps.
Improving national waste
management programmes not only helps reduce
the volume of waste in the world's seas
and oceans and subsequent damage to the
marine environment, but can also bring real
economic benefits.
In the Republic of Korea,
for example, a policy of Extended Producer
Responsibility has been enforced on packaging
(paper, glass, iron, aluminium and plastic)
and specific products (batteries, tyres,
lubricating oil) since 2003. This initiative
has resulted in the recycling of 6 million
metric tonnes of waste between 2003 and
2007, increasing the country's recycling
rate by 14 percent and creating economic
benefits equivalent to US$1.6 billion.
Waste management is
one of ten economic sectors highlighted
in UNEP's Green Economy Report, launched
in February 2011. The report highlights
enormous opportunities for turning land-based
waste - the major contributor to marine
debris - into a more economically valuable
resource. The value of the waste-to-energy
market, for example, which was estimated
at US$20 billion in 2008 is projected to
grow by 30 percent by 2014.
The scaling-up of a
transition to a low carbon, more resource-efficient
Green Economy is one of two key pillars
of the United Nations Sustainable Development
conference to be held in Brazil next year.
Also known as Rio+20, the conference aims
to secure renewed political commitment for
sustainable development and address new
and emerging challenges - twenty years after
the landmark Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
