Page 29 - IB June July 2024

Oceans and Fisheries Oceans and Fisheries
TACKLING THE PACIFIC’S

PLASTICS CRISIS

By Prerna Priyanka banning unnecessary and avoidable single-use plastics.
Volentras explained: “We’ve seen positive steps with the
The Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), an initiative introduction of substitutes for plastic forks, knives, and
under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment straws. There are alternatives for plastic plates and bags.
Programme (SPREP), is fighting the threat of single-use “These measures directly impact the 832,000 residents of
plastics to the Pacific coastal environment. the Solomon Islands.”
With the primary goal of reducing, refusing, and replacing One of the project’s significant benchmarks is the visible
single-use plastics, the project aims to mitigate the reduction of single-use plastics in the environment.
devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems “We conduct regular monitoring and clean-up campaigns to
and Pacific communities’ livelihoods. measure progress,” Volentras said.
“The Pacific Ocean and our islands are being suffocated by “When we return to previously monitored sites, a decrease
plastic,” said POLP Project Manager, Andrea Volentras. in plastic waste is a clear indicator of success,” Volentras
“We find plastic waste on every island, whether inhabited or noted.
not, and even in the stomachs of our fish,” said Volentras. “These efforts are crucial in protecting hotspots where
“Recent studies in Suva revealed that about 70% of coastal communities rely on mangroves and coastal areas for their
fish contain microplastics. This is not just an environmental livelihoods.”
issue; it’s a health crisis affecting our people.” The global plastic treaty, a topic of intense negotiation, has
POLP’s strategy encompasses several key components: significant implications for the Pacific.
legislative support, policy development, behavioural change Volentras expressed concern about the slow progress and
initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and the promotion of divergent views among negotiating countries.
alternatives to single-use plastics. “The negotiations are protracted and challenging, with
The project also collaborates closely with Pacific Island critical issues still unresolved. The Pacific Island countries
nations to tailor solutions to their specific needs and contexts. advocate for addressing plastic pollution from production to
For instance, the Solomon Islands have enacted a law disposal, but there is strong opposition to this comprehensive
approach,” he remarked.
The involvement of petroleum states, with their vested
interests in the fossil fuel-derived plastic industry, further
complicates negotiations.
“These states profit from petrochemicals used in plastics.
Reducing production means financial losses and job cuts for
them, which is why they push for national rather than global
regulations,” Volentras explained.
This stance places a disproportionate burden on Pacific
nations, which contribute a mere 1.3% to the ocean’s plastic
waste yet suffer immensely from its consequences.
According to Volentras, an ideal global plastics treaty
for the Pacific would include measures to curtail plastic
production, especially of unnecessary and toxic plastics.
It would also mandate robust design standards to prevent
plastics from breaking down into harmful microplastics.
“We need a treaty that holds polluting countries
accountable and provides financial mechanisms for
remediation and clean-up,” Volentras emphasised.
“The treaty should also address the issue of extended
producer responsibility, ensuring that companies
manufacturing plastic products take accountability for their
waste.”
The broader goal of POLP and SPREP is to foster a regional
shift towards sustainability, protecting the Pacific’s unique
ecosystems and the health of its people.
“Our environment, our culture, and our health are at stake.
This is not just an environmental crisis; it’s a threat to our
identity as Pacific islanders,” Volentras said.

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