Dubrovnik Struggles With A Wave Of Plastic Pollution After Major Storm – One Green Planet

Report on Marine Debris Incident in Dubrovnik and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Incident Summary

A significant pollution event occurred in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where large quantities of plastic waste inundated the city’s coastline. The incident highlights critical challenges to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Location: Banje Beach and the historic waterfront of Dubrovnik.
• Nature of Debris: The waste consisted primarily of plastic bottles, metal scraps, and medical waste.
• Suspected Origin: Local officials report that labels and materials indicate the majority of the waste originated in Albania, carried by strong southern currents in the Adriatic Sea.
• Recurrence: This event is part of a recurring pattern, as the enclosed nature of the Adriatic Sea funnels debris into the same coastal areas.

2.0 Analysis of Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The incident directly contravenes the objectives of multiple SDGs, underscoring the interconnectedness of environmental health, economic stability, and international cooperation.

2.1 SDG 14: Life Below Water

The pollution presents a severe threat to marine and coastal ecosystems, undermining progress toward SDG 14.

• The influx of plastic waste directly contributes to marine pollution, threatening the fragile biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea.
• Reports of animals washing ashore on nearby islands provide direct evidence of the harmful impact on marine wildlife.
• The recurring nature of the pollution demonstrates a systemic failure to protect and sustainably manage marine resources.

2.2 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

As a historic city reliant on its natural and cultural heritage, Dubrovnik’s sustainability is compromised by this environmental challenge.

• The pollution degrades the city’s renowned natural beauty, which is essential for its tourism-dependent economy.
• The event exposes the vulnerability of coastal communities to transboundary environmental threats that are beyond their direct control.

2.3 SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The incident is a clear manifestation of unsustainable production and consumption patterns on a global scale.

• The sheer volume of debris reflects the global issue of plastic overproduction, with tens of millions of tons entering oceans annually.
• The low global recycling rate for plastic, cited as less than ten percent, is a primary driver of such pollution events.
• While Dubrovnik has made local commitments to reduce plastic waste, this event proves that isolated actions are insufficient without systemic changes in production and cross-border waste management.

3.0 Responses and Strategic Recommendations

Addressing this challenge requires a multi-level approach, from local action to international partnerships, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Immediate Local Response: Municipal crews initiated large-scale cleanup operations to remove truckloads of debris from the coastline. Local recycling groups are attempting to repurpose salvageable materials.
2. Call for International Cooperation (SDG 17): Officials have called for stronger cross-border cooperation to manage and prevent transboundary waste flows. This is essential, as the pollution originates from outside national borders.
3. Technological Integration: The use of advanced tools, such as satellite monitoring, has been proposed to track waste slicks before they reach the coast, allowing for proactive intervention.
4. Promotion of Sustainable Practices: There is a renewed call for individuals and communities to adopt sustainable habits and lower-waste options to reduce the source of plastic pollution, thereby supporting the long-term health of marine ecosystems and achieving the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   This is the most central SDG addressed. The article’s main focus is the “tide of plastic trash” polluting the Adriatic Sea and washing up on the shores of Dubrovnik. It discusses the direct impact of marine debris on the coastline, marine ecosystems, and wildlife, referencing how plastic pollution is “dangerous for marine animals and fragile ecosystems.”

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The article highlights the impact of this environmental crisis on the city of Dubrovnik. The city’s “stunning coastline and storybook Old Town” are directly affected, and its local crews are overwhelmed by the task of “hauling away truckloads of plastic bottles, metal scraps and even medical waste.” This relates to a city’s capacity for waste management and maintaining a clean, sustainable environment for its residents and for tourism.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   The root cause of the problem described is unsustainable production and consumption of plastics. The article points to the global scale of the issue, stating that “tens of millions of tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year, and less than ten percent is ever recycled.” It calls for a shift in consumer behavior toward “lower waste options” and “more sustainable… habits.”

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The article emphasizes the transboundary nature of the pollution, noting that “most of the waste appeared to come from Albania.” This highlights the inadequacy of isolated, national efforts. The call from officials for “stronger cross-border cooperation” directly points to the need for international partnerships to solve a shared environmental problem.

5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   A direct link to health is made when the article mentions that the waste includes “medical waste” and that the recurring pollution “threatens not only the local environment but the health of the wider region.” This connects the environmental pollution to potential risks for human health.

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

• 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. The entire article is an account of marine debris originating from a land-based source (implied to be Albania) and polluting the coast of Dubrovnik.

• 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 air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article describes a massive failure in waste management, leading to an extreme environmental impact on the city of Dubrovnik. The city’s 2020 pledge “to reduce plastic waste” is a direct action related to this target.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article’s statistic that “less than ten percent is ever recycled” directly addresses the failure to meet this target on a global scale. The call to “rethink our daily choices and move toward more sustainable… habits” supports the goal of waste reduction.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The need for coherent policies between countries like Croatia and Albania is implied by the call for “stronger cross-border cooperation” to manage waste that flows from one nation to another.

• 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 presence of “medical waste” in the sea and on the beaches represents a direct health hazard from water pollution, aligning with the concerns of this target.

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

• Indicator for Target 14.1 (Marine Debris)

  The article does not provide a quantitative measure like plastic debris density, but it implies methods for measurement. The description of “huge amounts of debris” and “truckloads of plastic bottles” serves as a qualitative indicator of the problem’s scale. Furthermore, the proposal to use “new tools like satellite monitoring to track waste” is a direct suggestion for a technology that could be used to gather data for this indicator.

• Indicator for Target 12.5 (Recycling Rate)

  The article provides a direct, quantitative indicator related to global recycling. The statement that “less than ten percent is ever recycled” is a specific data point that measures the national and global recycling rate (Indicator 12.5.1).

• Indicator for Target 11.6 (Waste Management)

  The article implies an indicator for the proportion of municipal solid waste that is not properly managed. The fact that waste from one country is washing up in another indicates a complete failure in waste collection and management in the source location. The “truckloads” of waste collected from the beach can be seen as a measure of the amount of waste that escaped controlled management systems.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: onegreenplanet.org