South African and more than 200 countries signed a U.N. resolution in Nairobi to eliminate plastic pollution in the sea.
If current pollution rates continue, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which organized the meeting.
Approximately eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said.
Under the resolution, countries agreed to start monitoring the amount of plastic they put into the ocean.
“We now have an agreement to explore a legally binding instrument and other measures and that will be done at the international level over the next 18 months,” Norway’s environment minister, Vidar Helgesen, told Reuters.
China is the biggest producer of plastic waste but has started making efforts to cut down.
“If there is one nation changing at the moment more than anyone else, it’s China … the speed and determination of the government to change is enormous,” UNEP head Erik Solheim said.
Under the resolution, countries agreed to start monitoring the amount of plastic they put into the ocean.
“While this is not a treaty, significant progress is being made … 39 governments announced new commitments to reduce the amount of plastic going into the sea,” said the chief of public advocacy at UNEP, Sam Barrat.
“Chile, Oman, Sri Lanka and South Africa today … announced measures including plastic bag bans, new marine reserves and drives to increase recycling.”
39 governments announced new commitments to reduce the amount of plastic going into the sea. Chile, Oman, Sri Lanka and South Africa announced measures including plastic bag bans, new marine reserves and drives to increase recycling.
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