Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

Mangroves threatened by plastic pollution from rivers, new study finds

GRID-Arendal Plastics & Pollution

Mangrove ecosystems are at particular risk of being polluted by plastic carried from rivers to the sea. 

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Ganges river carrying billions of plastic particles into ocean each day

Nick Lavars, New Atlas Plastics & Pollution

A group of scientists studying the flow of plastic into the ocean have found a startling amount of pollution exiting South Asia's largest river systems.

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Meet the next generation turning the tide on plastic pollution

Taylor Clayton, World Economic Forum Plastics & Pollution

The pandemic has exacerbated the already severe problem of plastic pollution. Here are eight young people from around the world who are leading the fight against our throwaway culture.

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Combined river flows could send up to 3 billion microplastics a day into the Bay of Bengal

University of Plymouth, Science Daily Plastics & Pollution

New research shows the Ganges River - with the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers - could be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day.

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UN Hopes to Reduce Ocean Plastic Waste Within Five Years

Tiffany Duong, EcoWatch Plastics & Pollution

This month, a new era began in the fight against plastic pollution.

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11 innovations protecting life below water – and above it

Nathalie Chalmers, World Economic Forum Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution

Solutions tackle a range of ocean challenges including coral reef restoration, scaling restorative aquaculture, unearthing technologies for marine protection and helping invest in nature-based solutions.

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The Biggest Thing Missing From Joe Biden's Climate Plan: Plastic

Dharna Noor, Gizmodo Plastics & Pollution

The industry is already banking on plastic to save itself amid decreasing fuel demand and an increase in sustainable energy policies around the world.

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4 Ocean-based Solutions to Advance Climate Action Through NDCs

Eliza Northrop and Mario Finch, World Resources Institute Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Here are four areas that offer opportunities for ocean-based climate action in NDCs.

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Eliminating microplastics in wastewater directly at the source

Audrey-Maude Vézina, INRS Plastics & Pollution

Professor Patrick Drogui’s research team has developed a process for the electrolytic treatment of wastewater that degrades microplastics at the source. 

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Plastic Pollution: We Need To Act Now

The ASEAN Post Team Plastics & Pollution

The problem has now been further exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic as “a new wave of plastic pollution” is littering beaches and public spaces in the form of disposable masks and gloves, said Jack Middleton from Surfers Against Sewage, a movement tackling plastic pollution.

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This Seagrass Traps Marine Plastic

Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution

Researchers find the Mediterranean species of seagrass collects plastics in fibrous balls that form from its fallen leaves.

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What does the Biden presidency hold for ocean sustainability?

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution

A major drive to promote offshore renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture and coastal restoration while redoubling international commitments is likely.

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Marine waste turned into beach cleaning equipment

Charley Adams, BBC News Plastics & Pollution

A charity dedicated to clearing the planet of rubbish two minutes at a time has created a beach cleaning station made out of marine litter.

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New Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Recycling Plant from TOMRA and Borealis

Ben Messenger, Waste Management World Plastics & Pollution

TOMRA and Borealis have begun operations of start of their advanced mechanical recycling demo plant in Lahnstein, Germany.

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Seagrass 'Neptune balls’ sieve millions of plastic particles from water, study finds

Agence France-Presse, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

Underwater seagrass in coastal areas appear to trap plastic pollution in natural bundles of fibre known as “Neptune balls”, researchers have found.

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Help UK seas recover to deliver £50bn in benefits, report urges

Emily Beament, Yahoo! Finance Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Restoring the UK’s seas from their damaged state could give a £50 billion boost to the economy, create thousands of new jobs and help the climate crisis, a report says.

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Clothes washing linked to ‘pervasive’ plastic pollution in the Arctic

Damian Carrington, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

The Arctic is “pervasively” polluted by microplastic fibres that most likely come from the washing of synthetic clothes by people in Europe and North America, research has found.

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More than 50 countries commit to protection of 30% of Earth's land and oceans

Patrick Greenfield and Fiona Harvey, The Guardian Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

A coalition of more than 50 countries has committed to protect almost a third of the planet by 2030 to halt the destruction of the natural world and slow extinctions of wildlife.

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Banks Called Out For Their Role In Financing Plastic Pollution

Mike Scott, Forbes Plastics & Pollution

The pressure to clean up plastic pollution faded in 2020 thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in the use of plastic in PPE and to keep food and other purchases safe.

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Why Plastic Pollution Is a Producer Responsibility

Alex Truelove, The Revelator Plastics & Pollution

We won’t be able to stem the tide of plastic waste until manufacturers are held accountable for their products.

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