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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Tangled Waters: Equity-based Study of Plastic Pollution Impacts on Indigenous Communities in Fiji
ClearPlastics pollution as waste colonialism in Te Moananui
Through interviews with nineteen key decision-makers, researchers examined how Pacific Island nations are affected by plastics pollution through the lens of waste colonialism. The study argues that the flow of plastic waste from wealthy nations to Pacific communities represents a form of environmental injustice, with island nations bearing disproportionate impacts from pollution they did not create.
Plastic Marine Waste and its Potential for Indonesian Indigenous Communities
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.
Ocean plastic crisis—Mental models of plastic pollution from remote Indonesian coastal communities
Remote coastal communities in Indonesia are overwhelmed by plastic pollution despite low plastic literacy, largely because rising living standards have increased single-use plastic consumption while geography and poor waste infrastructure leave communities with few disposal options. The study highlights the need for supply-side interventions and better waste management systems, not just consumer education.
Plastics’ circular economy for the Galapagos Islands? Exploring plastics governance with implications for social and ocean equity in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Researchers explored the feasibility of implementing a plastics circular economy in the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing significant marine plastic pollution. They examined the governance structures needed to address plastic waste while balancing conservation goals with the needs of local communities. The study highlights how remote island communities in the global South face unique challenges in managing plastic pollution equitably.
Plastic Suffocation: Climate Change Threatens Indigenous Populations and Traditional Ecological Knowledge
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.
Participatory Social Mapping with Ethnic Communities to Identify Factors Associated With Microplastics in a Protected Area on the Northern Coast Of Colombia
Researchers used participatory social mapping with Indigenous and ethnic communities in a protected coastal area of Colombia to identify local hotspots of microplastic contamination, including wastewater discharge points and waste dumping sites, demonstrating that community knowledge is a valuable tool for environmental monitoring.
Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Marine Debris: a Case Study of Pancana Village With a Bibliometric Perspective
Researchers combined bibliometric analysis of 2000-2023 marine debris literature with a field case study in Pancana Village, Indonesia, finding that plastic accounts for 78% of coastal debris and that land-based waste is the primary pollution source. The study identifies community-based waste management and policy interventions as key areas for addressing the marine debris crisis.
Including local voices in marine debris conversations to advance environmental justice for island and coastal communities: perspectives from St. Paul Island, Alaska
Researchers partnered with the predominantly Alaska Native community of St. Paul Island to incorporate local knowledge into marine debris solutions, finding that remote coastal communities face disproportionate environmental justice burdens by bearing the cleanup costs of debris they did not generate.
Review: Review of participation of Indigenous peoples in plastics pollution governance — R0/PR2
This review examined how Indigenous peoples are described as participating in plastics pollution governance in peer-reviewed and gray literature, analyzing barriers and models of inclusion. Meaningful inclusion of Indigenous communities is essential for effective plastic pollution governance in coastal and remote areas where plastics have severe impacts on traditional food systems.
Confronting the material and structural leakiness of plastics: insights from multi-sited ethnography in India, Indonesia and the Philippines
Researchers used multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines to challenge OECD frameworks that attribute plastic pollution primarily to mismanaged waste in low- and middle-income countries, arguing that upstream petrochemical production in the Global North is a structurally obscured driver of plastic leakage.
Improving residential plastic waste management strategies for increasing value added to environmental sustainability
Researchers surveyed community awareness and behavior regarding plastic waste management in an Indonesian village, identifying gaps between knowledge and practice. Improving community engagement with proper plastic waste disposal is essential for reducing the plastic entering waterways and eventually becoming microplastics.
Presence of microplastics in water, sediments and fish species in an urban coastal environment of Fiji, a Pacific small island developing state
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic levels in surface water, sediments, and fish from the urban coastal environment of Suva, Fiji. The study confirmed the presence of microplastics across all three matrices in this Pacific small island developing state, and evaluated contributions from local sources including wastewater, highlighting that microplastic pollution affects even remote island nations.
Rastreando microplásticos em águas costeiras: um estudo de fatores ambientais usando canoa havaiana
Researchers tracked microplastic (MP) pollution in coastal waters using Hawaiian outrigger canoes, studying how environmental factors influence MP distribution in zones where terrestrial and marine sources intensely interact. The work aimed to better understand MP dynamics in biodiverse coastal ecosystems subject to tourism, fishing, and navigation.
Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South.
Researchers synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence on marine plastic pollution in the Global South, identifying rapid urbanization, inadequate waste infrastructure, and weak governance as primary drivers, and recommending integrated strategies combining single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility, regional cooperation, and circular economy incentives.
Assessment of stream quality and health risks in Indonesian river systems: A social analysis and water quality index approach
Researchers assessed water quality in three Indonesian rivers used by local communities, finding microplastics — primarily polyethylene and polypropylene — alongside elevated levels of iron, lead, and manganese, with residents reporting rising rates of skin disease and diarrhea linked to polluted water use.
Transdisciplinary science and the importance of Indigenous knowledge
This paper is not directly about microplastics — it is a conceptual article arguing that transdisciplinary science and Indigenous knowledge partnerships are essential for achieving transformational environmental sustainability outcomes, using pollution as one example of complex challenges requiring such approaches.
Solutions to Plastic Pollution: A Conceptual Framework to Tackle a Wicked Problem
This review proposed a conceptual framework for organizing the diverse technological, governance, and societal solutions to global plastic pollution, mapping the value-laden issues that drive different actors' preferences for particular approaches.
Participatory monitoring with VA'A canoes identifies key environmental factors driving microplastic distribution
Researchers used participatory monitoring with VA'A canoes to assess microplastic abundance, composition, and distribution in coastal environments, identifying key environmental, spatial, and temporal factors driving microplastic distribution while demonstrating the value of integrating water sports communities into scientific monitoring.
Assessing Indonesia’s Environmental Laws Pertaining to the Abatement of Marine Plastic Pollution: A Euphemism?
This study examined Indonesia's environmental laws governing marine plastic pollution, finding significant gaps between legislative intent and enforcement capacity, and arguing that stronger regulatory frameworks, improved waste infrastructure, and community-based approaches are needed to reduce the country's large contribution to ocean plastics.
When Plastics Dominate the Seas: a Study of the Threat to Coastal Community Development from Plastic Waste
This qualitative study investigated the ecological, health, and economic impacts of plastic pollution on coastal communities in the Riau Islands, Indonesia, focusing on effects on marine ecosystems and fishermen's livelihoods. Plastic waste was found to threaten fish stocks and fishing income, illustrating how marine plastic pollution directly undermines coastal community development.
Challenges in Implementing Sustainable Marine Tourism Policy against the Threat of Waste in Coastal Areas
Researchers investigated the challenges of implementing sustainable marine tourism policies against plastic waste pollution at coastal sites in Indonesia, including Kuta Beach, Bali, finding that government policy alone is insufficient and that community participation is essential for effective waste management.
Plastic pollution research in Indonesia: State of science and future research directions.
This meta-analysis reviews the state of plastic pollution research in Indonesia, a country identified as one of the top contributors to global plastic waste. The findings highlight significant gaps in data on microplastic contamination in Indonesian waters and ecosystems, which matters because plastic pollution from this region affects global ocean health and the seafood supply chain.
Mapping mismanaged plastic waste in Indonesia: subdistrict-level analysis through material flow from sources to the environment
Researchers found that Indonesia produces over 9 million tons of plastic waste each year, with more than 1 million tons ending up directly in rivers, drains, and illegally dumped on land. This mismanaged plastic waste breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics that can contaminate drinking water and food sources, potentially affecting human health. The study helps identify pollution hotspots where better waste management could reduce plastic entering the environment and our bodies.
Models of justice evoked in published scientific studies of plastic pollution
This study analyzed 755 scientific publications on plastic pollution and found that all invoked at least one implicit model of justice — most commonly developmental, distributive, or procedural justice — calling for researchers to be more intentional about the ethical frameworks they apply in plastic pollution science.