Ocean, People, Planet: Preventing Ocean Plastic Pollution

Episode 113

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Projects: Preventing Ocean Plastics

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Ocean, People, Planet: Preventing Ocean Plastic Pollution
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Stat: 11 million metric tons—the amount of plastic that enters the ocean each year.

Story: We continue our “Ocean, People, Planet” season with a discussion of one of the largest threats facing the ocean: plastic pollution. Winnie Lau, who is the project director of Pew’s preventing ocean plastics project, and Richard Bailey, professor of environmental systems at Oxford University, discuss ways to reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean and highlight a new analytical tool that nations can use to take action.

Related Resources

Our Ocean Is Choking on Plastic—But It's a Problem We Can Solve

Breaking the Plastic Wave: Top Findings for Preventing Ocean Plastic

Podcast
Projects: Preventing Ocean Plastics
Topics: Ocean Conservation
Tags: Habitat protection & Ecosystems
Experts: Richard Bailey & Winnie Lau, Ph.D.

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Ocean, People, Planet
Ocean, People, Planet

Ocean, People, Planet

There is only one ocean, essential to the life of everyone on Earth—and it faces perils like never before
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Ocean, People, Planet

The ocean covers nearly three-fourths of the Earth. Vast and powerful, it is central to the life of everyone on the planet, supplying more than half of the world’s oxygen, providing food, recreation, and supporting economic vitality. Yet for all its seeming invincibility, the ocean has never been more in danger. Its very chemistry is changing as ocean waters become more acidified through climate change. Its inhabitants—from large sharks to tiny crustaceans the size of a human finger—are under assault with XX percent of fish stocks overfished. And ocean levels continue to rise, challenging the barriers separating people from water.

Related Experts
Richard Bailey Professor of Environmental Systems
Oxford University
Winnie Lau, Ph.D. Project Director
Preventing Ocean Plastics
MEDIA CONTACT
Sultana Ali Senior Manager, Communications 202.540.6188

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