Combatting and fighting Plastic Pollution

Norway leads

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Amsterdam, 29 april 2024 — ‘Plastic pollution is one of the fastest growing environmental problems in the world. We are now extending our initiative to combat plastic pollution in developing countries by providing up to NOK 1 billion over a period of four years’, said Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.

Plastic pollution can be found everywhere, even in the human body.

Every year more than 110 million tonnes of plastic waste are mismanaged worldwide. Plastic pollution is harmful to animal life and ecosystems, and has a negative impact on the harvesting of living marine resources. It also affects human health and quality of life, especially among the poorest groups.

‘If we don’t take action now, plastic pollution will double over the next 20 years. This new allocation of funding will help to keep that from happening,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

Norway is one of the largest donors

The new funding will be used to continue Norway’s development programme to combat marine litter and microplastics, which was established in 2019.

Activities under the programme make Norway one of the largest bilateral donors of support for measures to reduce plastic pollution. An assessment of the programme shows that it has helped to prevent and reduce plastic pollution in developing countries, and a decision has been taken to extend the programme.

Further efforts will, for example, be targeted towards strengthening the regulatory framework in various countries and encouraging private industry to develop effective, innovative solutions.

The aim is to increase sustainable production and consumption of circular economy products and services, improve waste management systems and implement clean-up projects in coastal areas and rivers. The programme is part of the effort to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.1, on reducing marine pollution.

International agreement to combat plastic pollution

Norway is actively involved in the effort to develop a wide-ranging global agreement to combat plastic litter and pollution, and co-chairs the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. The decision to start negotiations on an international agreement represented a milestone in the international efforts to curb plastic pollution. The negotiations are now under way, with the goal of reaching agreement in November.

‘An effective, legally binding international agreement could reduce plastic pollution by 90 % by 2040 and will play a crucial role in the transition to a circular plastic economy. A great deal of funding will be needed to implement the agreement, especially in poor countries. Norway’s new allocation will be important in this context as well,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

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