A Report on Global Plastic Pollution and the Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals

International Policy and the Challenge of Global Cooperation

International efforts to combat plastic pollution are intensifying, with frameworks like the High Ambition Coalition aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040. This coalition, which includes South Korea, is central to achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its support for a legally binding global plastic treaty. However, challenges within these partnerships persist, as evidenced by accusations of passivity against some member nations during recent negotiations. The urgency of these talks was underscored by Panama’s National Climate Change Director, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, who stated, “Every piece that we allow to produce without limits is a direct assault on our health, on our nature and our future,” highlighting the profound threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Case Study: The Sri Lankan Nurdle Spill and its Socio-Economic Impact

The 2021 nurdle spill in Sri Lanka, the largest single plastic spill recorded, serves as a stark illustration of the devastating impact of plastic pollution on local communities and ecosystems. The long-term consequences directly undermine several Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The spill caused severe, ongoing damage to marine ecosystems. Reports indicate the plastic pellets continue to pollute the environment, absorbing toxins and becoming more hazardous over time.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Thousands of local fishermen were forced out of their livelihoods due to the contamination of fishing grounds, demonstrating the direct economic consequences of environmental degradation.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The burden of cleanup has fallen disproportionately on local communities. These communities are not responsible for the production or transport of the plastics, yet they bear the environmental and economic costs, exacerbating existing inequalities.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Local women’s groups were instrumental in the initial cleanup efforts, using manual methods to collect thousands of bags of nurdles. This highlights the gendered dimensions of environmental disasters, where women often take on significant roles in community-level response and mitigation.

Expert Analysis and Recommendations for an Effective Treaty

According to Professor Trisia Farrelly, who coordinates the Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, current approaches place an unjust burden on affected communities. The Coalition advocates for a treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastic, with a significant focus on upstream measures. This aligns with a holistic approach to achieving the SDGs. Key recommendations include:

1. Implement Producer Responsibility: The treaty must shift accountability from consumers and local communities to producers. Professor Farrelly notes that producers possess the “agency and the power necessary to prevent plastic pollution” but often “externalise the environmental cost.” Holding producers responsible is fundamental to achieving SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Focus on Upstream Solutions: To create a sustainable solution, the treaty must move beyond waste management. It should incorporate binding targets for reducing plastic production levels and eliminating hazardous chemical additives, directly addressing the core drivers of the pollution crisis as outlined in SDG 12.
3. Promote Environmental Justice: The treaty must protect the rights of communities disproportionately affected by plastic pollution. The principle that local communities should not bear the cost of pollution they did not create is essential for advancing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and ensuring the sustainability of coastal communities under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on plastic pollution touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on the environmental impact on oceans and the socio-economic consequences for coastal communities, which directly links to the following SDGs:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the most prominent SDG, as the article’s central theme is plastic pollution in marine environments, referencing the impact on “every reef, every river, every ocean,” and the “single largest plastic spill” of nurdles affecting marine ecosystems.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article strongly advocates for addressing the root cause of plastic pollution, specifically mentioning the need to cut “production levels and hazardous plastic chemicals” and holding producers accountable for the environmental costs.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The economic fallout from plastic pollution is highlighted by the fact that “thousands of local fishermen have been forced to quit their jobs” in Sri Lanka following the plastic spill.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses the burden placed on “local communities,” who are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution they did not create and are forced to engage in cleanup efforts, impacting their quality of life and environment.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The health implications are mentioned, with plastic pollution described as a “direct assault on our health” and plastic pellets becoming “more toxic” over time, posing a risk to humans and nature.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes the importance of global cooperation, referencing the “High Ambition Coalition,” the “legally binding global plastic treaty,” and the “Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty” as key multi-stakeholder efforts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.” The entire article is about marine debris in the form of plastic nurdles and the international efforts to create a treaty to “end plastic pollution by 2040.”
• Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” The article describes the plastic spill’s “impact on marine ecosystems” and the ongoing pollution of Sri Lanka’s beaches as a failure to protect these environments.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.4: “By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle…and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil…” The call to address “hazardous plastic chemicals” and the focus on waste management align directly with this target.
• Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The Scientist Coalition’s push to address “upstream factors” by “cutting production levels” is a clear call for waste prevention and reduction at the source.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The article provides a direct example of a setback to this target, stating that “thousands of local fishermen have been forced to quit their jobs” due to the environmental degradation caused by the plastic spill.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to…waste management.” The article questions why “local communities [should] bear this burden” of cleaning up plastic pollution, highlighting the adverse environmental impact on them.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The description of plastic pollution as an “assault on our health” and the finding that nurdles “continue to pollute – even getting more toxic” implies a direct link to health risks from water and soil contamination.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The article explicitly mentions several such partnerships, including the “High Ambition Coalition” of over 60 countries, the UN’s work on a “global plastic treaty,” and the “Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 14.1 (Marine Debris): The article implies an indicator through its description of the pollution in Sri Lanka. Progress could be measured by the amount of plastic waste found on coastlines. The text mentions “thousands of bags of nurdles” and “countless plastic pellets,” which serve as a baseline measure of the problem. A reduction in these amounts would indicate progress.
• Indicator for Target 12.5 (Waste Reduction): The call to “cut production levels” implies that the volume of virgin plastic produced is a key indicator. A decrease in global plastic production would signify progress towards this target.
• Indicator for Target 8.5 (Employment): The article provides a direct, measurable indicator: the number of people employed in industries affected by pollution. The statement that “thousands of local fishermen have been forced to quit their jobs” is a concrete data point showing the negative impact. Progress would be the stabilization or recovery of these jobs.
• Indicator for Target 17.16 (Partnerships): An indicator is the number of countries and stakeholders actively participating in global environmental agreements. The article mentions “over 60 countries” in the High Ambition Coalition and notes South Korea’s “passive role,” suggesting that both the number of signatories and the level of their commitment are used as measures of the partnership’s effectiveness.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: oceanographicmagazine.com