Commonwealth’s war on ocean plastics recruits new pledgers

Three more countries from across the Commonwealth of Nations have signed up to an international pledge to eliminate avoidable single-use plastic and to help clean up the world’s oceans, the government of the United Kingdom has confirmed.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Ghana have joined the U.K. and Vanuatu-led Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance (CCOA), an agreement between member states to join forces in the fight against plastic pollution.

At the same time, a GBP 61.4 million (USD 87.8 million, EUR 71 million) funding package has been allocated by the U.K. government to boost global research and to help commonwealth countries stop plastic waste from entering oceans. 

Of this total, GBP 25 million (USD 35.8 million, EUR 28.9 million) will go to help researchers approach the problem from scientific, technical, economic, and social perspectives, while GBP 20 million (USD 28.6 million, EUR 23.1 million) goes toward preventing plastic and other environmental pollution from manufacturing in developing countries. And to further support the work of CCOA, GBP 16.4 million (USD 23.5 million, EUR 19 million) will be used to improve waste management at national and city levels.

“When it comes to our seas and oceans, the challenge is global so the answer must be too," U.K. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. "Through this ambitious alliance we will build on the U.K.’s world-leading microbeads ban and GBP 0.05 (USD 0.07, EUR 0.06) plastic bag charge to harness the full power of the commonwealth in pushing for global change and safeguarding our marine environment for future generations.”

Developing countries signed up to CCOA will also be eligible to bid for partnership support to improve waste management systems and implement other initiatives to stop plastic waste from reaching oceans.

CCOA will also work in partnership with businesses and NGOs, including the World Economic Forum, broadcasting company Sky, Fauna and Flora International, Coca-Cola, and WWF to share expertise and experience and push for global change.

Meanwhile, the Department for International Development (DFID) has said that later this year in recognition of the “passionate response” of the U.K. public to the issue of plastic waste in the world’s oceans and rivers, it would be matching public donations to tackle the problem “pound-for-pound.” DFID will also support research into solutions to reduce manufacturing pollution, and carry out pilot programs to help tackle city waste.

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