Meghan Hodges
Marine pollution is one of the greatest threats to the health of the world's oceans, with plastic being the most harmful type of ocean pollution. The United Nations (UN) is taking a variety of actions to combat this issue. For example, the Regional Seas Programme leads efforts to address pollution from both land-based and marine-based sources, including plastic pollution, integrating science, policy, and partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. The UN has also launched the Ocean Conference Voluntary Commitments Registry, which provides a platform for stakeholders to report on their commitments and share knowledge and best practices. In addition, the UN has set goals to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, conserve and sustainably use the oceans, and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine pollution | Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons clogging the ocean in 2021, a figure set to double or triple by 2040. |
| Goal | To conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. |
| Marine protected area | Marine protected area coverage has increased more than tenfold since 2000: as of May 2024, 8.4% of the ocean is protected through 18,200 marine protected areas and 199 other area-based conservation measures. |
| Marine litter | Marine litter consists of items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or rivers or on beaches. |
| Marine debris | Marine debris and nutrient pollution are targeted for reduction by 2025. |
| Overfishing | Overfishing has led to the depletion of over one-third of global fish stocks. |
| Tourism | About 80% of all tourism takes place in coastal areas. |
| Regional Seas Programme | The Regional Seas Programme leads efforts to address pollution from both land-based and marine-based sources, including plastic pollution, integrating science, policy, and partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. |
| Conventions and protocols | The Regional Seas Programme implements conventions and protocols to combat marine pollution from the coast, watercourses, and the atmosphere. |
| Global Partnership on Marine Litter | Regional Sea Programmes participate in the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, and 11 regional seas have Regional Marine Litter Action Plans. |
| Marine Drifting Garbage Monitoring Project | The Marine Drifting Garbage Monitoring Project was launched on November 1, 2014, to gather social forces and mobilize the public to participate in coastline garbage cleaning and monitoring. |
| Ocean Conference Voluntary Commitments Registry | The Ocean Conference Voluntary Commitments Registry provides a platform for stakeholders to report on their commitments and share knowledge and best practices within and across the Communities of Ocean Action. |
| Communities of Ocean Action | Each Community of Ocean Action is coordinated by designated focal points from the UN system and civil society, including UN Environment, UNDP, FAO, and others. |
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What You'll Learn
The UN is working to reduce marine plastic waste
Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons of waste clogging the ocean in 2021, a figure predicted to double or triple by 2040. Plastic is the most harmful type of ocean pollution. Marine litter, which includes manufactured or processed solid material such as plastics, is extremely slow to degrade and is constantly growing in quantity.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is also involved in tackling marine plastic waste. UNEP has implemented the Pacific Regional Action Plan: Marine Litter 2018-2025, which focuses on minimizing marine litter across the Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Additionally, UNEP supports the Tehran Convention, which aims to protect the Caspian Sea from pollution and preserve its species and habitats.
The UN has also launched the Clean Seas Campaign, which has generated thousands of pledges from NGOs and individuals to combat pollution, as well as almost 40 national pledges, resulting in many countries banning plastics. Furthermore, the UN is working to increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity, and transfer marine technology to improve ocean health and enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of countries, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries.
The UN's efforts to reduce marine plastic waste are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. This includes targets such as preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution, protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, addressing ocean acidification, and ending overfishing and illegal fishing practices.
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The UN is addressing marine pollution from land-based sources
Marine pollution is one of the greatest threats to the health of the world's oceans, and approximately 80% of it originates from land-based sources. These sources include municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste, wastewater, nutrient runoff, and emissions from power generation, heavy industry, automobiles, and other activities. The UN is actively addressing marine pollution from land-based sources through various programmes, regulations, and initiatives.
One key initiative is the Regional Seas Programme (RSP), led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The RSP collaborates with member states to implement region-specific strategies to combat land-based sources of pollution. It integrates science, policy, and partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. The programme addresses a range of land-based pollution issues, including plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, industrial waste, marine litter, and oil spills.
The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA), established in 1995, is another important initiative. The GPA works to identify the sources of land-based pollution and develop priority action programmes to reduce them. It has led to similar regional agreements worldwide, such as the Pacific Regional Action Plan: Marine Litter 2018-2025, which focuses on minimising marine litter in Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
The UN has also established the "Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Pollution through Strengthened Coordination of Global Action" project. This five-year project, launched in January 2019, aims to strengthen responses to land-based pollution, enhance cooperation, and drive action. It provides technical and policy support to strengthen intergovernmental processes for a global coordinated response.
In addition, the UN's Sustainable Development Goal target 14.1 pledges to "prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution" by 2025. This goal recognises the impact of land-based pollution on marine ecosystems, industries, and human health.
While the UN is taking significant steps to address marine pollution from land-based sources, the effectiveness of these efforts depends on the cooperation and commitment of individual nations. The sensitive nature of territorial sovereignty and economic development can sometimes hinder the implementation of legally binding instruments to tackle land-based marine pollution.
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The UN is tackling ocean acidification
The health of the ocean is critical to human existence and life on Earth. Covering three-quarters of the Earth's surface, oceans contain 97% of the planet's water and represent 99% of its living space by volume. They are also the planet's greatest carbon sink. However, marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons of plastic waste clogging the ocean in 2021, and this figure is expected to double or triple by 2040.
The United Nations (UN) is actively tackling the issue of ocean acidification through various initiatives and programmes. The UN-endorsed programme Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) is one such initiative. OARS aims to address the impacts of ocean acidification by identifying seven key outcome areas, including improving data quality and sharing, fostering collaboration, and building local and international capacity. By inviting individuals, organisations, and governments to submit commitments, OARS seeks to inspire action and raise awareness about the growing ocean acidification crisis.
The UN is also addressing ocean acidification through its Regional Seas Programme, which aims to combat both land- and sea-based sources of pollution. The programme integrates science, policy, and partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. It addresses a range of pollution sources, including plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, industrial waste, marine litter, and oil spills. The Regional Seas Programme collaborates with member states to implement region-specific strategies and strengthen laws against industries and individuals dumping trash into the oceans.
Additionally, the UN has set Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. Under this goal, the UN aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, protect and restore marine ecosystems, address overfishing, and enhance scientific cooperation to tackle ocean acidification.
The UN's efforts to tackle ocean acidification involve improving understanding of its impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems, enhancing prediction capabilities, and developing strategies for adaptation and mitigation. By engaging various stakeholders, the UN seeks to address the causes of ocean acidification and safeguard the health and resilience of marine environments.
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The UN is aiming to end overfishing and illegal fishing practices
Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons of waste clogging the ocean in 2021, and this figure is set to double or triple by 2040. The UN is taking several measures to tackle this crisis, including addressing overfishing and illegal fishing practices.
The UN's Regional Seas Programme plays a crucial role in addressing marine pollution from both land and sea-based sources. It collaborates with member states to implement region-specific strategies and regulate marine pollution sources. The Programme aims to tackle various forms of pollution, including agricultural runoff, industrial waste, marine litter, and oil spills.
To combat overfishing and illegal fishing, the UN has set specific goals and targets. By 2020, the UN aimed to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems, strengthen their resilience, and take action for their restoration. This included implementing science-based management plans to end overfishing, illegal fishing, and destructive fishing practices. The goal was to restore fish stocks to levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield, as determined by their biological characteristics.
The UN has also been working to eliminate certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. Additionally, they aim to eliminate subsidies that encourage illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. By 2030, the UN hopes to increase the economic benefits for Small Island Developing States and least developed countries through the sustainable management of fisheries.
The UN has made significant progress in expanding marine protected areas and addressing illegal fishing. The marine protected area coverage has increased more than tenfold since 2000, with 8.4% of the ocean currently protected. However, the UN acknowledges that more urgent action is needed to meet Goal 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
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The UN is encouraging individual action to restore oceans
Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels, with over 17 million metric tons of waste in the ocean in 2021, and this figure is expected to double or triple by 2040. The health of the ocean is intimately tied to human health, and the ocean is essential to life on Earth. The United Nations is taking action to address this growing issue through its Regional Seas Programmes, which collaborate with member states to implement region-specific strategies that combat both land- and sea-based sources of pollution.
One of the key initiatives led by the UN is the Regional Seas Programme, which plays a leading role in addressing the sources and impacts of marine pollution. The programme integrates science, policy, and partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development. It tackles a range of pollution sources, including plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, industrial and municipal waste, marine litter, and oil spills.
The UN is also working to strengthen laws and regulations that prevent industries and individuals from dumping trash into the oceans. The Regional Seas Programmes are enhancing the capacity of national governments to enforce these laws and address deficiencies in their implementation. Additionally, the UN has launched the Ocean Conference Voluntary Commitments Registry, providing a platform for stakeholders to report on their commitments and share knowledge and best practices for combating marine pollution.
The Clean Seas Campaign, one of the first voluntary commitments announced, has garnered thousands of pledges from NGOs and individuals to beat pollution. This has led to many countries banning plastics as a concrete step towards reducing marine litter. The UN is also raising awareness about the value and threats to coral reefs and associated ecosystems by designating 2018 as the International Year of the Reef.
Furthermore, the UN is committed to expanding marine protected areas and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. By May 2024, 8.4% of the ocean was protected through 18,200 marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to increase this coverage to 30% of the oceans by 2030.
The UN is also addressing marine pollution through its Communities of Ocean Action, coordinated by entities such as UN Environment, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Maritime Organization. These communities bring together various stakeholders to address specific issues related to marine pollution, such as the Closed Loop Oceans initiative, which aims to raise funds to finance solutions to ocean plastic pollution in Southeast Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
The UN's goal is to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, especially from land-based activities, by 2025.
The UN is working with global and regional partners to implement region-specific strategies that combat both land- and sea-based sources of pollution. The Regional Seas Programme, for example, addresses pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, marine litter, and oil spills. The UN is also collaborating with various organizations, such as the Ocean Conservancy, to raise awareness and develop solutions to ocean plastic pollution.
One of the major challenges is the lack of implementation and enforcement of international, regional, and national regulations and standards. Additionally, there is a need for improved waste management practices and increased global awareness about the impact of daily actions on ocean health.
The UN aims to achieve SDG Goal 14, which includes preventing, reducing, and eliminating marine plastic litter. The UN also seeks to increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity, and enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans through international law and agreements.
