Quantcast
Environmental News for a Healthier Planet and Life

European Union Can't Blow Opportunity to Set Strong Marine Litter Targets

Stefanie Spear
Jul. 02, 2012 11:00AM EST

Seas at Risk

Marking 'International Bag-Free Day,' more than 30 non-governmental organizations (NGO) are making a final call to EU Environment ministers ahead of the July 15 deadline for setting marine litter targets, as required under EU law. In an open letter sent to all 27 ministers, the NGOs are calling for ambitious and significant reduction targets for 2020.

Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), member states have to disclose their initial assessments of their own waters, define what they consider to be ‘Good Environmental Status’ and set targets for several marine environmental challenges, including marine litter, for 2020.

Monica Verbeek, executive director of Seas At Risk said:

“The MSFD presents a golden opportunity for member states to tackle the problem of marine litter and plastic pollution in our seas. We want to see member states committing to targets that will have a real and noticeable effect on litter levels on our beaches and in our seas, not only for the sake of marine life, but also to reduce the economic burden marine litter brings to coastal communities and maritime industries. Significant reductions are possible but strong political will is needed now.”

The 32 NGOs—whose interests range from turtle conservation to waste reduction policy—fear that member states could end up wasting the opportunity by setting weak targets that if achieved will have little effect on the state of the marine environment.

The letter—and an associated advice document for the Environment ministers that was published earlier this year—details the feasibility of setting a 50 percent reduction target in marine litter by 2020.

The letter is being sent out individually to all European Environment Ministers on July 3 to mark ‘International Bag-Free Day.' This year, groups from all over the world are organizing activities to raise awareness on the impact of single-use plastic bags on the environment.

 

  • The letter can be read in full by clicking here.

  • For more information on International Bag-Free Day, click here.

Visit EcoWatch's WATER page for more related news on this topic.

 

water

EcoWatch Daily Newsletter

fossil fuels

Fossil Fuels Add to World’s Marine Dead Zones

Oceans
Heavy industry on the lower Mississippi helps to create dead zones. AJ Wallace on Unsplash.

Cutting out coal-burning and other sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy industry, electricity production and traffic will reduce the size of the world's dead zones along coasts where all fish life is vanishing because of a lack of oxygen.

Read More Show Less
emissions marine life environment pollution fossil fuels oceans
keystone xl

Construction Begins on Keystone XL Pipeline in Montana

Energy
youtu.be

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has restricted the ability to gather in peaceful assembly, a Canadian company has moved forward with construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, according to the AP.

Read More Show Less
keystone xl coronavirus pipelines climate crisis indigenous peoples donald trump canada montana
Sponsored
methane

Methane Levels Dramatically Increase

Energy
A gas flare from the Shell Chemical LP petroleum refinery illuminates the sky on August 21, 2019 in Norco, Louisiana. Drew Angerer / Getty Images.

Methane levels in the atmosphere experienced a dramatic rise in 2019, preliminary data released Sunday shows.

Read More Show Less
climate science pollution emissions fossil fuels gas methane
coronavirus

Coal Miners With Black Lung Brace for COVID-19

Health + Wellness
A retired West Virginia miner suffering from black lung visits a doctor for tests. Andrew Lichtenstein / Corbis via Getty Images

In some states like West Virginia, coal mines have been classified as essential services and are staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the close quarters miners work in and the known risks to respiratory health put miners in harm's way during the spread of the coronavirus.

Read More Show Less
coal coronavirus black lung west virginia kentucky
renewable energy

Renewable Sources Made up 72% of New Energy Added in 2019

Renewable Energy
Solar panel installations and a wind turbine at the Phu Lac wind farm in southern Vietnam's Binh Thuan province on April 23, 2019. MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP via Getty Images

Renewable energy made up almost three quarters of all new energy capacity added in 2019, data released Monday by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows.

Read More Show Less
renewable energy climate crisis solar wind coronavirus