We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ocean inspiration for a sustainable future: Rivers to Seas engagement and a UN Ocean Agency?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers argue that ocean sustainability efforts remain disconnected from inland communities and propose a "Rivers to Seas" public engagement framework alongside a dedicated UN Ocean Agency to better translate political momentum—including concern over marine plastic pollution—into coordinated land-to-sea action.
Ocean sustainability matters to everyone because planetary health depends on the ocean and a healthy ocean requires a sustainability transformation across society, land and sea. The ocean is a critical arena for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Public engagement with ocean sustainability shows considerable potential to drive forward global sustainability action, as seen in contemporary concerns regarding marine plastic pollution rallying political leaders to develop a global plastics treaty. Despite this success, communities inland can still be much better connected to ocean sustainability and should be engaged to hold decision-makers to account for environmental and social progress alongside political interest in the growing ocean economy. Accessible and emotive messaging is required for public and political audiences, but delivery needs are complex, so we must ensure advances in public engagement are in tandem with translation into appropriate action. This Perspective recommends that we: (1) use a Rivers to Seas paradigm to better connect public support for ocean sustainability with land-based populations; (2) use accessible and emotive public messaging connected to detailed and complex delivery through principle-based approaches; and (3) create a UN Ocean Agency alongside the post-2030 sustainable development agenda to advance the changes needed.
More Papers Like This
Sea of plastic: representations of the sea and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors regarding marine plastic pollution in Peru and Chile
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers explored pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors regarding marine plastic pollution through 44 semi-structured interviews with Peruvian and Chilean citizens, examining how sea-related representations shape environmental engagement. The study found that positive connections to the sea were associated with stronger motivation to reduce plastic pollution.
Ocean governance for human health and the role of the social sciences
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper examines the interdependence of ocean health and human health, arguing that effective ocean governance must involve the social sciences to address the complex human behaviors and institutions driving marine degradation. Managing plastic pollution entering the ocean requires governance frameworks that integrate scientific and social knowledge.
Towards more sustainable oceans: A review of the pressing challenges posed by marine plastic litter
AI summary Read the abstract
This study combined a bibliometric analysis of international marine plastic litter research with a review of policy measures and case studies across countries, finding that unsustainable practices and inadequate enforcement are the main drivers of persistent marine plastic pollution. The authors emphasized the need for prevention-focused policies and environmental awareness programs to work toward cleaner oceans for future generations.
A catchment‐scale perspective of plastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review framed plastic pollution from a catchment-scale perspective, synthesizing evidence on plastic sources, transport dynamics, and effects across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments within river drainage basins. The authors find that rivers are hotspots for plastic pollution and pivotal conduits to the ocean, and call for integrated catchment-level management rather than environment-by-environment approaches.
Plastic pollution of the world’s seas and oceans as a contemporary challenge in ocean governance
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper frames plastic pollution of the world's seas and oceans as a defining contemporary challenge in ocean stewardship, reviewing the scale of the problem and arguing for urgent policy and management responses.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.