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Plastic Suffocation: Climate Change Threatens Indigenous Populations and Traditional Ecological Knowledge
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This policy paper argues that Indigenous communities bear a disproportionate burden from plastic pollution and associated climate change effects, particularly through contamination of traditional marine food systems. The author argues that plastic waste threatens traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices tied to healthy ocean environments.
Plastic use and waste is a major contributor to climate change worldwide. While attempts to combat and reduce plastic consumption, use, and waste are addressed, remaining unaddressed is the fact that Indigenous populations are more highly impacted by waste plastic and associated climate change affects. These populations are more adversely impacted at higher rates, which is threatening vital Traditional Ecological Knowledge which in turns threatens cultural foundations and cultural lifeways. Plastic waste in traditional marine homeland areas affect Indigenous populations the most, supportive assistance for community is scant, and escape is impossible for place-based Indigenous peoples worldwide.
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The Role of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge in Combatting Plastic Pollution
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This paper argues that indigenous and traditional knowledge systems must be included in global efforts to combat plastic pollution, as these communities offer unique environmental governance insights. Integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches is proposed as a pathway toward sustainable solutions to the plastic crisis.
Plastic Marine Waste and its Potential for Indonesian Indigenous Communities
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This article explores the potential for Indonesian indigenous communities to play a role in addressing marine plastic waste, combining traditional ecological knowledge with waste management strategies. It highlights cultural and governance dimensions of plastic pollution responses in coastal Indonesia.
Tangled Waters: Equity-based Study of Plastic Pollution Impacts on Indigenous Communities in Fiji
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Researchers examined the impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities at three case study locations in Fiji, blending Indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary research methods and equity frameworks to assess distributional, procedural, and recognitional dimensions of plastic pollution. The year-long fieldwork-based study found that plastic pollution disproportionately burdens Indigenous communities and recommended improved waste management solutions grounded in community agency.
Indigenous rights, knowledge, and participation in the global plastics treaty
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This paper argues that Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately harmed at every stage of the plastic lifecycle and face structural barriers to participation in UN plastics treaty negotiations, calling for binding commitments to Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge inclusion, and full and effective participation in global plastic governance.
The Ecological Impacts of Marine Plastic Debris in the South Pacific Region
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This thesis mapped the extent of marine plastic pollution in the South Pacific, finding contamination levels comparable to the North Pacific Garbage Patch, with significant threats to local ecosystems and island communities that depend on ocean resources for food and income. The study also compared the environmental impact of plastic shopping bag alternatives.
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.