Our oceans and seas are in the process of turning into a gigantic waste dump. Pollution threatens ecological health, coastal security, our blue economy and a basis of our wellbeing. Plastic litter remains a great threat and a major environmental issue to people worldwide. The equivalent of 850 shipping containers filled with plastics are dumped into the rivers and ocean every day resulting now in over 5 trillion floating plastic pieces reaching even the most remote parts of our ocean. Excess nutrients, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, munition, noise, microbes, and other pollutants add further stress to the marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
The new European Commission’s President aims to move Europe towards a zero-pollution ambition. In particular, the proposed new research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, includes Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters as one of the only five priorities (“Missions”). Issues of ocean pollution are also priority topics for the Joint Programming Initiative for Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) and for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Tonino Picula, President of the Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands & Coastal Areas
Catherine Chabaud, Vice Chair for Climate and Governance
Marcella Hansch, CEO of Pacific Garbage Screening
The event will be free of charge and will take place on 17 February 2020 from 16:00-18:00 at the European Parliament Brussels (Room ASP 3H1).
Registration for the event is open on the SEARICA website.