In August 2019, the Korea Association for UN Environment initiated a two-day 2019 Beat Plastic Pollution: Save the Sea—Clean-up Marine Litter Camp. The Camp involved 30 university students and gave a rare opportunity to participate in marine litter clean-up activities and acquire specific knowledge about marine litter. The students came from 17 different Korean universities, among them: the Pusan National University, the Pukyong National University, the Catholic University of Korea, the Korea Maritime & Ocean University, and the Yonsei University.
Dr. Ning Liu, the Programme Officer at the Northwest Pacific Action Plan, informed the students on recent developments in the region related to the combat on marine litter. He introduced the current situation, the sources of pollution, as well as the adverse effects of marine litter on the environment. He focused on the three key elements to tackle marine litter issues, namely the prevention of marine litter input, the monitoring of marine litter quantity and distribution, and existing practices of the removal of existing marine litter.
During the presentation, Dr. Ning Liu highlighted the fundamental importance of the marine litter governance that involves policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, consumers, media, and civil society in a modern circular economy approach. Improving policies, legislation as well as waste management are the vital elements in the fight against marine litter. He encouraged the student to explore better technology solutions and policy options to drastically improve the current situation. The Korea Association for UN Environment regularly organizes events for university students and works very closely with the Northwest Pacific Action Plan to raise awareness on marine litter issues.
(photo credit: Shuyue Yan)
Implementation of NOWPAP contributes to the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in the Northwest Pacific region.