Global Strategies/Policies and Citizen Science for Microplastic Management

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a significant challenge to the global environment, posing potential threats to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. To effectively address this issue, the formulation of strategies and policies at a global scale is of paramount importance. Additionally, the involvement of citizen science is considered a key factor in advancing MP management and monitoring. This chapter aims to explore the critical roles of global strategies, policies, and citizen science in MP management, with the intention of providing valuable insights and recommendations for the development of comprehensive solutions. The widespread use of plastics has become integrated into modern life; yet it brings about serious environmental issues. The low cost and versatility of plastics have led to an increasing global reliance but have also generated large amounts of plastic waste. This plastic waste not only severely damages aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity but also has irreversible effects on the water resources relied upon by approximately 3 billion people globally. Furthermore, recent discoveries of MPs in food and drinking water pose potential threats to human health. To address this issue, the international community has begun formulating various policies and regulations to restrict and reduce plastic pollution. However, these efforts face numerous challenges, such as ineffective policy enforcement, lack of specific indicators of regulatory impact, and insufficient research on the health effects of plastics and their alternatives. Therefore, further strengthening international cooperation, developing and implementing more effective policies, and translating them into actionable measures are needed to protect our environment and health. Moreover, plastic pollution exhibits transnational and cross-border characteristics, making it difficult for a single country or region to solve alone. Hence, international cooperation and governance are crucial. In this regard, the role of the United Nations is particularly critical, especially in promoting coordination among countries and formulating global strategies for preventing and controlling plastic pollution. Additionally, there is a need to encourage and support more scientific research to deepen our understanding of the environmental and human health impacts of plastic pollution, thereby providing a more scientific basis for policy-making. In addition, the involvement of citizen science will also play a significant role in MP management. Through citizen science projects, the public can participate in the monitoring and data collection of MPs, thereby expanding the scope of monitoring and enriching the dataset. This not only enhances public awareness of MP issues but also strengthens societal engagement and environmental consciousness, providing broader support and participation for MP management. Therefore, global strategies/policies and citizen science both play crucial roles in MP management, complementing each other to provide comprehensive solutions for addressing the issue of MP pollution. This chapter will delve into the critical roles of these two aspects in MP management and offer corresponding recommendations, aiming to provide valuable insights for global MP management. While the formulation of strategies, policies, and the promotion of citizen science participation are equally crucial, these measures often require a longer period to yield impact and necessitate greater coordination and collaboration. In contrast, by controlling the sources of MP pollution, the rapid reduction of MP release can be achieved, thereby mitigating environmental and ecosystem damage at the initial stage. Source control directly intervenes in the process of MPs entering the environment, fundamentally reducing the impact of MPs on ecosystems and human health. Implementing control measures during production, use, and disposal stages effectively reduces MP release, preventing their entry into water bodies, soil, and the atmosphere. Therefore, the importance of source control lies in its immediacy and swiftness, providing a more direct and immediate impact on MP management, minimizing environmental pollution, and offering a more direct and effective means of protecting ecosystems and human health.