The oceans are increasingly unhealthy. This is the conclusion of the Starfish barometer, released on Monday, June 8, to mark World Ocean Day. Sea levels are rising at an ever-increasing rate, marine biodiversity is threatened, and pollution is accumulating. According to estimates from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
The international community is still unable to agree on reducing plastic pollution. The latest attempt dates back to last August. Representatives from 185 countries meeting in Geneva failed to even reach a non-binding agreement, merely acknowledging that global plastic production and consumption had reached an » unsustainable » level.
An agreement that foundered on the opposition of oil-producing countries, recalls former French minister Sylvie Goulard, who now co-chairs a Franco-British initiative for nature restoration. » It wasn’t the world that failed. A large majority of countries wanted an agreement, » she explains. » This is where we reach the limits of our international organization. First of all, there’s no reason to be pessimistic; we have to find a way around these people, and the best way to do that would be to develop alternatives to plastic. «
» Innovative regulations at the local level «
For Valerie Hickey, the World Bank’s environment director, the world shouldn’t just sit idly by. » There are increasingly innovative regulations at the local level: for example, to force companies that produce single-use plastics to pay for collection and recycling, » she notes. » Some countries and regions have also banned the use of single-use plastics. «
The fact remains that global plastic production exceeds 400 million tons and is constantly increasing. Less than 10% is recycled, a figure that is not rising. According to the latest Starfish barometer, 1,685 marine species were threatened with extinction, eight more than last year. 84.4% of coral reefs experienced severe thermal stress leading to bleaching, compared to 68.2% in 2014-2017.
source : rfi
