We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
SDG 14: Stepping up international efforts to tackle ocean plastic pollution
Summary
This policy analysis examines international efforts to address ocean plastic pollution under Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Researchers assess the adequacy of existing international agreements and national commitments and identify gaps in governance coverage. The paper argues that SDG 14 requires stronger and more specific plastic pollution targets backed by binding international law.
Eight to twelve million tons of plastics end up in the oceans every year. One of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Goal 14 on life below water, calls upon states to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris, by 2025. Following China’s ban of all imports of non-industrial plastic wastes in 2018, exports of plastic wastes by high-income countries have shifted to South East Asian countries putting unbearable stress on their waste management systems. Despite worldwide attention devoted to the ocean plastics crisis, these practices are likely to aggravate the problem. It shows that current efforts are not sufficient to achieve the SDG target 14 for marine plastic litter and microplastics.