FIRST DRAFT ASSESSMENT ON SOURCES, PATHWAYS AND HAZARDS OF LITTER INCLUDING PLASTIC LITTER AND MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION - NOT FOR CIRCULATION OR QUOTATION FIRST DRAFT OF 2020 ASSESSMENT ON SOURCES, PATHWAYS AND HAZARDS OF LITTER INCLUDING PLASTIC LITTER AND MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION Table of content PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Key Messages ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 SECTION 1: SOURCES AND DRIVERS OF MARINE LITTER AND MICROPLASTICS ................................ 3 1.1 Plastic in the marine environment ................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Underlying drivers of plastic in the marine environment ................................................................................ 4 1.3 Global production and demand for primary plastic ......................................................................................... 5 1.4 Global trade in plastic waste ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Sources of marine litter and microplastics .................................................................................................... 13 1.6 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 1.7 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 SECTION 2. PATHWAYS, HAZARDS AND IMPACTS ..................................................................................... 19 2.1 Pathways of litter and microplastics into the ocean ...................................................................................... 19 2.2 Hazards and impacts of marine litter and microplastics ................................................................................ 24 2.3 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.4 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 SECTION 3. MONITORING, INDICATORS OF MARINE LITTER AND TRACEABILITY ........................... 32 3.1 Monitoring, baselines and indicators ............................................................................................................. 32 3.2 Data sharing and citizen science ................................................................................................................... 36 3.3 Traceability ................................................................................................................................................... 38 3.4 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 39 3.5 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 40 SECTION 4. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES ............................................................................................................... 43 4.1 Technologies and measures ........................................................................................................................... 43 4.2 Risk reduction approaches............................................................................................................................. 43 4.3 Solutions and opportunities ........................................................................................................................... 44 4.4 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 47 4.5 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 48 SECTION 5. KEY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................... 49 5.1 Research and technology ............................................................................................................................... 49 5.2 Areas of research gaps and time frame .......................................................................................................... 50 5.3 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 52 SECTION 6. MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 53 6.1 Main Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 53 6.2 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................... 56 ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................................................................... 57 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................... 58 1 FIRST DRAFT ASSESSMENT ON SOURCES, PATHWAYS AND HAZARDS OF LITTER INCLUDING PLASTIC LITTER AND MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION - NOT FOR CIRCULATION OR QUOTATION PREFACE The growing problem of marine litter and microplastics is being addressed by the United Nations Environment Assembly through key resolutions adopted at its four meetings. These include: UNEP/EA.1/Res.6: Marine plastic debris and microplastics (2014); UNEP/EA.2/Res.11: Marine plastic litter and microplastics (2016); UNEP/EA.3/Res.7: Marine litter and microplastics (2017); and UNEP/EA.4/Res.6: Marine plastic litter and microplastics (2019). In 2016, UNEP prepared a report “Marine plastic debris and microplastics – Global lessons and research to inspire action and guide policy change (UNEP 2016) in response to UNEP/EA.1/Res1.6. The report focussed on: - identification of the key sources of marine plastic debris and microplastics; - possible measures and best available techniques and environmental practices to prevent the accumulation and minimize the level of microplastics in the marine environment; - recommendations for the most urgent actions; areas especially in need of more research, and other relevant priority areas The United Nations Environment Assembly, at its fourth session in March 2019, requested the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in resolution UNEP/EA.4/Res. 6 paragraph 2, to: “…immediately strengthen scientific and technological knowledge with regard to marine litter including marine plastic litter and microplastics, through the following activities: (b) Compiling available scientific and other relevant data and information to prepare an assessment on sources, pathways and hazards of litter, including plastic litter and microplastics pollution, and its presence in rivers and oceans; scientific knowledge about adverse effects on ecosystems and potential adverse effects on human health; and environmentally sound technological innovations; This shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Assessment”. In response to this request, the Executive Director of UNEP has begun preparations for this Assessment, and has convened a Scientific Advisory Committee to guide and inform the implementation of paragraph 2, and in particular guide the development of the Assessment requested in subparagraph 2(b). Executive Summary Key Messages 2 FIRST DRAFT ASSESSMENT ON SOURCES, PATHWAYS AND HAZARDS OF LITTER INCLUDING PLASTIC LITTER AND MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION - NOT FOR CIRCULATION OR QUOTATION 1 SECTION 1: SOURCES AND DRIVERS OF MARINE LITTER AND 2 MICROPLASTICS 3 4 1.1 PLASTIC IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT 5 Plastic have substantially outpaced any other manufactured material in terms of production, because of their low 6 cost, durability, versatility and resistance to degradation. Demand for plastic is increasing worldwide, especially in 7 emerging economies, where a threefold increase is expected by the middle of the century (Lebreton and Andrady 8 2019; Geyer 2020). 9 10 Today, plastic represent roughly 80% of all marine litter (Carney et al. 2019). They potentially pose a significant 11 threat to the environment, because the properties that make them so successful also make them difficult or 12 impossible to be assimilated by nature. They are also pervasive. Floating plastic can be observed in all oceans and 13 a wide variety of aquatic organisms, from small zooplankton, molluscs and fishes, are becoming entangled or 14 ingesting them. The levels of plastic ingestion can be very high; for example, in highly mobile oceanic species such 15 as turtles, plastic was found in 80-85%