Caribbean Pollution: Cars, Industry, And Tourism's Dark Side

Marine pollution is a pressing issue in the Caribbean, threatening the region's economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability. The Caribbean Sea, which supports 37 distinct economies heavily reliant on tourism, is particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, sewage, gas, and oil. With up to 85% of marine litter originating from land, the problem of plastic pollution in the Caribbean is multi-faceted, requiring collective action from individuals, communities, corporations, and governing bodies to address over-consumption and poor waste management strategies. This issue is further exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and the lack of waste collection infrastructure, posing risks to marine ecosystems, human health, and economic activities. As a result, addressing marine pollution in the Caribbean has become a top priority, with countries implementing bans on single-use plastics and promoting awareness campaigns to mitigate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of pollution.

Plastic pollution

The environmental consequences of plastic pollution are far-reaching. Plastic waste clogs waterways, leading to increased flooding. It also contaminates sewage systems, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and heightening the risk of waterborne diseases such as dengue fever. Plastic pollution in the Caribbean has been vividly captured in a series of photographs, drawing attention to the severity of the problem. These images, depicting the Caribbean Sea filled with plastic bottles, cutlery, and polystyrene plates, have gone viral and served as a "watershed moment" in raising awareness.

The Blue Planet Society, an ocean conservation group, believes that much of the plastic pollution in the Caribbean Sea originates from the Motigua River in Guatemala. Seasonal rains wash the plastic into the river, which then flows into the ocean. This issue has prompted the Guatemalan and Honduran governments to collaborate and take action, including implementing measures to trap the garbage.

To address plastic pollution, several Caribbean countries have taken decisive action. Antigua and Barbuda, for example, implemented a five-phased approach to eliminating plastics. They incorporated a ban on single-use plastics into their existing legislation and launched the "Make a difference one bag at a time" campaign, promoting government-approved alternatives. As a result, the proportion of plastic dumped in landfills significantly declined from 19.5% in 2006 to 4.4% in 2017. Additionally, the UN Environment's Caribbean Environment Programme supports the implementation of the Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol and the Caribbean Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter (RAPMaLI), which includes promoting national policy and legal reforms to tackle marine litter.

Sewage and waste management

Marine litter, including sewage and waste, is a critical issue in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) has identified it as one of three priority pollutants, alongside agrochemical run-off and domestic wastewater.

The issue is exacerbated by a lack of land and resources for safe waste disposal, population growth, a thriving tourism industry, and an increase in imports of hazardous substances. Citizens are often left with no choice but to dispose of their waste in gullies and along riverbanks, which ultimately ends up in coastal waters. This has severe consequences for marine life and human health, as well as the region's economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism.

In 2004, a study revealed that wastewater treatment facilities were often absent or insufficient in many countries in the region. For example, in Saint Lucia, only 13% of the population was connected to the sewage system. This has resulted in standing pools of contaminated water, which, during severe weather, can cause sewage-related disease outbreaks.

The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (GEF CReW) is working to address this issue by improving the region's understanding of the problem and providing resources to assist countries in investing in wastewater treatment. The GEF-funded Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (IWCAM) project is also supporting legislative and policy reform, capacity building, and demonstration projects on key issues facing individual island states.

In addition to these regional efforts, several Caribbean countries have taken steps to improve waste management and reduce pollution. For example, Antigua and Barbuda implemented a five-phased approach to eliminating plastics, which included a ban on single-use plastics and a campaign to promote alternatives. As a result, the proportion of plastic dumped in landfills significantly declined. Jamaica has focused on recycling, community awareness, and education, while Panama has prioritized solid waste management, pollution prevention, and waste separation.

Agrochemical run-off

Soil moisture content, texture, and slope all influence the amount of runoff from a site. Moist soils are more prone to runoff than drier soils, and compacted clay soils are more susceptible to runoff than sandy soils. The steeper the ground slope, the more likely water will run off the site.

The solubility of pesticides also affects the likelihood of runoff. Highly soluble pesticides are more likely to be "picked up" by running water and washed off the treated site. However, most pesticides have low water solubility and do not dissolve enough to significantly contaminate runoff water. Pesticides that strongly adsorb to soil particles will generally stay on the treated site unless the soil is eroded by wind or heavy rain.

To minimise agrochemical run-off, it is important to avoid applying pesticides to frozen soils, as this can result in almost complete pesticide runoff. Additionally, side-hill and sloped ground contour planting, strip cropping, and buffer strips can help reduce runoff by slowing down the flow of water.

Climate change

The Caribbean's marine pollution, which includes plastics, sewage, agricultural runoff, gas, and oil, poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. It undermines entire ecosystems and the natural assets that Caribbean countries depend on, threatening marine animals and the livelihoods of those working in oceanic spaces. The region's coral reefs, beaches, and mangroves, critical for sustainability, inclusive growth, and economic activities, are at risk.

The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), part of the UN Environment's Caribbean Climate Network, plays a crucial role in addressing these issues. As the secretariat to the Cartagena Convention, the only legally binding environmental agreement in the region, CEP supports the implementation of the Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol and the Caribbean Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter (RAPMaLI). This includes backing national and regional marine litter projects and promoting policy and legal reforms.

In 2017, CEP partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Peace Corps, and UN Environment's Regional Office for Latin America to launch the Trash Free Waters Initiative, piloted in Panama and Jamaica. This initiative focuses on solid waste management, pollution prevention, waste separation, and community education and awareness. The partnership aims to prevent land-based trash from entering watersheds and the Caribbean Sea, reducing the impact of pollution on ocean health and ecosystems.

The Caribbean has also witnessed growing populations, rapid coastal development, increased shipping, and long-standing waste management challenges. These factors contribute to the region's vulnerability to climate change and the degradation of its marine environments. To address these issues, 14 Caribbean countries have banned single-use plastics and/or Styrofoam, recognizing the critical need to transition to a blue economy that ensures sustainable management of ocean resources.

Oil and gas

Trinidad and Tobago, due to its petroleum-based industry, are at very high risk of oil spills. In 1979, the world's largest tanker spill occurred off their coast when two tankers collided, releasing 287,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea. The last major oil spill in this area took place in 2000, causing short-term damage to coastlines, especially within the Gulf of Paria. Tar balls, a product of oil tanker residual discharge, have been found on the beaches of the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, and Barbados.

To address oil-related issues, the Wider Caribbean Region has implemented the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment (Cartagena Convention), a legally binding multilateral environmental agreement. The convention includes the Oil Spills Protocol, which aims to strengthen national and regional preparedness and response capacity to oil spills and foster cooperation among nations to prevent and control major incidents. The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information, and Training Centre Wider Caribbean (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe) is the Regional Activity Centre established under the Oil Spill Protocol, based in Curaçao.

The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) also plays a crucial role in mitigating oil and gas pollution. According to the 2004 "GIWA Regional Assessment 3a for the Caribbean Small Island subsystem" study, thousands of large vessels transporting oil, gas, and chemicals pass through the Small Islands annually, posing a high risk of spills. The programme supports national and regional marine litter projects and promotes policy and legal reforms to address land-based sources of marine pollution.

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