Combating marine plastic litter and microplastics: an assessment of the effectiveness of relevant international, regional and subregional governance strategies and approaches

Abstract

The United Nations Environment Assembly has at its two previous sessions highlighted marine plastic debris and microplastics amongst the issues of global importance. At the second session, resolution UNEP/EA.2/Res.11 on Marine Plastic Litter and Microplastics was adopted, in which governments requested an assessment of the effectiveness of relevant international, regional and sub-regional governance strategies and approaches to combat marine plastic litter and microplastics, taking into consideration the relevant international, regional and sub-regional regulatory frameworks. The resolution called for identification of possible gaps as well as options for addressing these gaps. The development of the assessment was supported by an interdisciplinary advisory group consisting of experts nominated by Governments and major groups and stakeholders. In addition to webinars, two workshops were convened. The first was attended by a panel of experts focusing on mapping the current legal and policy frameworks at the international and regional levels and identifying gaps. The second workshop was attended by the Advisory Group focusing on further identification of gaps and the elaboration of options for closing these gaps. The negative impacts of marine plastic litter and microplastics are widely recognized as unacceptable at the biological, ecological and the socio-economic levels. The UNEA-2 technical report entitled “Marine plastic debris and microplastics – Global lessons and research to inspire action and guide policy change” provided a comprehensive insight into the issues.1 In addition, the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment indicates, “Litter disposal and accumulation in the marine environment is one of the fastest-growing threats to the health of the world’s oceans.”2 The annual global rate of plastic production has continued to grow exponentially without a parallel increment in management measures, resulting in an ongoing contribution to marine plastic litter and microplastics from land, air and ocean.