Global Initiative

 

UNEP’s Regional Seas Coordinating Office and the Global Programme of Action (GPA) have embarked on the development of a ‘global initiative on marine litter’. Although marine litter is found in all oceans and sea areas of the world, this proposed initiative would concentrate, among others, on the establishment and development of pilot regional activities in regions that are particularly affected. The global initiative would also provide a global platform for the establishment of partnerships, co-operation and co-ordination of activities for the control and sustainable management of marine litter.

Key activities:

• Publication “Marine Litter: An analytical overview” (2005);
• Leaflet on marine litter “Tightening the noose” (2005);
• UNEP's contribution to the Secretary General's report on "Oceans and law of the sea" to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly (Nov. 2005);
• Report by UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “Marine Litter and Abandoned/Lost Fishing Gear”;
• A GEF Medium Sized Project “Development of a Global Framework for Marine Litter Reduction” is being prepared;
• Series of regional actions on marine litter in several Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans are being developed; and
• Establishment of a global partnership on marine litter during the 2nd Intergovernmental Review Meeting of the GPA (Beijing, October 2006).

Most of these activities have been developed by UNEP/RSP in consultation and, if appropriate, in co-operation with UN Agencies, including IMO, IOC of UNESCO, FAO and the Basel Convention. Internal consultations and plans for co-operation were also held with the GPA and the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) of UNEP.

Other activities that are planned to be developed within the framework of UNEP’s Global Initiative will include, the development of substantive guidelines and recommended policies on:

• harmonizing monitoring systems of marine litter;
• the management of abandoned and lost fishing gear;
• reception facilities for marine garbage and waste;
• the development of economic instruments to better control the problem;
• addressing the tourist and diving sectors and industries;
• cooperation with global and regional beach clean up campaigns;
• the development of outreach and educational material and other activities that will be identified as priority issues.