Cooperation to tackle plastic pollution
9 July 2019
PML researchers will be contributing to a new research project aiming to inspire international action to tackle marine plastic pollution.
‘The Economics of Marine Plastic Pollution: What are the Benefits of International Cooperation?’ project will calculate the economic costs of the environmental damages associated with marine plastic and the benefits of cross-country coordinated action to address the problem.
Dr James Clark, a marine ecosystem modeller at PML and one of the researchers involved in the new project said:
“The problem of marine plastic debris has received a large amount of attention in recent years. However, there is a significant amount of uncertainty regarding how it should be addressed. In this exciting and highly interdisciplinary project, involving economists, social and marine scientists, we will examine the benefits of international cooperation to reduce marine plastic pollution. We hope that our results will help inform the development of improved international agreements that effectively combat the problem.”
The three year study, which involves academics from the University of Stirling, University of Glasgow, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Clark University in America, will focus on collecting data from eight countries bordering the North Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers will seek to map the spatial distribution and movement of marine plastic; calculate the costs of reducing both the stock and flows of plastic in and into the marine environment; develop a framework to determine the economic benefits of different levels of international cooperation in reducing plastic waste; and identify incentives that might encourage a joined-up approach.
PML's work within the project will mainly focus on how plastic waste travels across the North Atlantic and what environmental impacts these plastics cause, particularly in relation to marine biodiversity. Dr Clark will be running simulations to evaluate the flux of plastic between countries on either side of the Atlantic, whilst environmental economist Dr Nicola Beaumont looks at quantifying the marine biodiversity impacts.
This research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Mkutano wa kimataifa wa kupambana na uchafuzi wa plastiki wa baharini (PML) unaanza Julai 9, 2019 na lengo la utafiti wa utafiti wa kimataifa wa kutatua uchafuzi wa plastiki baharini. "Mfano wa ""The Economics of Marine Plastic Pollution: What Are the Benefits of International Cooperation"" unaonyesha jinsi mazingira yanavyoathiriwa na plastiki na jinsi nchi mbalimbali zinavyoweza kuitatua." "Daktari James Clark, mtengenezaji wa mifumo ya mazingira ya baharini katika PML na mmoja wa watafiti wanaohusika katika mradi huo mpya alisema: ""Tatizo la taka za plastiki baharini limepokea umakini mkubwa katika miaka ya hivi karibuni." Hata hivyo, kuna kiasi kikubwa cha kutokuwa na uhakika kuhusu jinsi inapaswa kushughulikiwa. Katika mradi huu wa kuvutia na wa kitaaluma, unaohusisha wataalamu wa uchumi, jamii na wanasayansi wa bahari, tutachunguza faida za ushirikiano wa kimataifa kupunguza uchafuzi wa plastiki baharini. "Tuna matumaini kwamba matokeo yetu yatasaidia kuendeleza makubaliano bora ya kimataifa ambayo yanashughulikia tatizo hilo kwa ufanisi. ""Utafiti wa miaka mitatu, ambao unahusisha wasomi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Stirling, Chuo Kikuu cha Glasgow, Maabara ya Bahari ya Plymouth na Chuo Kikuu cha Clark huko Amerika, utazingatia kukusanya data kutoka nchi nane zinazopakana na Bahari ya Atlantiki Kaskazini." Watafiti watajaribu kuunda ramani ya usambazaji wa nafasi na harakati za plastiki ya baharini; kuhesabu gharama za kupunguza hifadhi na mtiririko wa plastiki katika na ndani ya mazingira ya baharini; kuunda mfumo wa kuamua faida za kiuchumi za viwango tofauti vya ushirikiano wa kimataifa katika kupunguza taka za plastiki; na kutambua motisha ambazo zinaweza kuhamasisha mbinu ya pamoja. Kazi ya PML ndani ya mradi huo itazingatia hasa jinsi taka za plastiki zinavyosafiri katika Atlantiki ya Kaskazini na ni athari gani za mazingira ambazo plastiki hizi husababisha, haswa kuhusiana na utofauti wa kibiolojia wa baharini. Clark atafanya simulation ili kutathmini mtiririko wa plastiki kati ya nchi zote mbili za Bahari ya Atlantiki, wakati mtaalamu wa uchumi wa mazingira Dk Nicola Beaumont ataangalia kuamua athari za bioanuwai ya baharini. Utafiti huu umefadhiliwa na Baraza la Utafiti wa Kiuchumi na Jamii (ESRC).