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2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution

  • Rachel Tiller , Emily Cowan , Thomas Maes and Andy M. Booth
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De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental crisis, impacting human health, ecosystems, and economies globally. This chapter explores the pervasive nature of microplastics, their sources, and the extensive regulatory efforts to mitigate their impact. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the historical and current governance frameworks addressing plastic pollution, focusing on the developments leading up to the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in April 2024. The chapter highlights the evolution of international treaties and agreements, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly’s mandate and the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT), emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to tackle the entire lifecycle of plastics. By examining the regulatory landscape and the challenges of implementing effective measures, the authors underscore the importance of global cooperation and robust monitoring to reduce microplastic pollution significantly. The chapter concludes with reflections on the future role of the GPT within the broader context of the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) and the vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental crisis, impacting human health, ecosystems, and economies globally. This chapter explores the pervasive nature of microplastics, their sources, and the extensive regulatory efforts to mitigate their impact. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the historical and current governance frameworks addressing plastic pollution, focusing on the developments leading up to the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in April 2024. The chapter highlights the evolution of international treaties and agreements, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly’s mandate and the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT), emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to tackle the entire lifecycle of plastics. By examining the regulatory landscape and the challenges of implementing effective measures, the authors underscore the importance of global cooperation and robust monitoring to reduce microplastic pollution significantly. The chapter concludes with reflections on the future role of the GPT within the broader context of the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) and the vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Content V
  3. Book introduction
  4. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  5. Section 1
  6. The political economy of the ocean 13
  7. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  8. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  9. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  10. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  11. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  12. Section 2
  13. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  14. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  15. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  16. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  17. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  18. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  19. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  20. Section 3
  21. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  22. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  23. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  24. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  25. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  26. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  27. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  28. Section 4
  29. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  30. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  31. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  32. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  33. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  34. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  35. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  36. Section 5
  37. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  38. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  39. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  40. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  41. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  42. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  43. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  44. Book conclusions
  45. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  46. Subject Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111195544-011

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Content V
  3. Book introduction
  4. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  5. Section 1
  6. The political economy of the ocean 13
  7. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  8. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  9. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  10. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  11. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  12. Section 2
  13. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  14. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  15. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  16. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  17. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  18. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  19. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  20. Section 3
  21. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  22. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  23. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  24. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  25. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  26. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  27. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  28. Section 4
  29. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  30. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  31. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  32. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  33. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  34. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  35. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  36. Section 5
  37. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  38. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  39. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  40. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  41. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  42. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  43. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  44. Book conclusions
  45. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  46. Subject Index
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