KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept. 18, 2014, CNS – September 20 has been designated as International Coastal Cleanup Day and UNEP CEP will join forces with Ocean Conservancy in helping to turn the tide on ocean trash.
Coastal Cleanup Day will be celebrated in more than 97 countries and locations around the world where persons come together to clean up the seas, coasts, rivers and beaches.
Marine litter is any processed material generated by humans which enters the environment and every day, eight million items become marine litter.
This Saturday, in Jamaica, UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) along with more than 2000 volunteers will be participating in Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) International Coastal Cleanup Day efforts in Fort Rocky, Palisadoes.
Regionally, UNEP CEP has been involved in several initiatives to address marine litter using an integrated solid waste management approach. This includes working with the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) in updating the Caribbean Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter Management (RAPMaLi). This collaboration has led to the development of many initiatives including an online marine litter game for children.
Christopher Corbin, the Programme Officer for the Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution sub-programme at UNEP CEP noted: “that solid waste is a major problem and often humans do not make the connection on how their actions affect the environment.” With the development of the UNEP-CAR/RCU’s Kids’ Game and web-based educational tools, UNEP CEP is connecting young people with their local environment, encouraging civic pride and addressing the lack of a strong educational foundation in scientific processes.
Other ongoing UNEP CEP initiatives include a Geographic Information System (GIS) for mapping solid waste facilities in the Wider Caribbean Region. This will identify how many waste dumps are in close proximity to water bodies, such as oceans, lagoons and rivers, and assist in measuring and minimizing the impact of garbage that often enters the seas and coastal areas after heavy rainfall.
CNS/ml/2014
