On September 21, 2019, several groups around the world rallied together to take part in beach cleanups in celebration of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day. The United Nations Country Team in Jamaica was once again onboard to support this movement to raise awareness about poor solid waste management and catalyze action by local citizens to control, reduce and prevent marine litter and plastic pollution.
Led by the staff of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Jamaica Team participated in the beach cleanup organized by the Jamaica Environment Trust, national coordinators of ICC Day in Jamaica. The event took place at the Palisadoes Go Kart Track in Kingston.
The thirty-seven team members of the UN family represented the United Nations Environment Programme Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO), Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica (UNRCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and included staff, their families, interns and UN volunteers.
During the cleanup at Palisadoes, the team documented several items of trash that had accumulated along the coast, including plastic bottles, single-use plastic bags, diapers, pieces of Styrofoam, items of clothing, fish nets and plastic bottle corks. Some solid waste products, such as plastic bottles and plastic bags, were found lodged between rocks and took some effort to extract. The nooks and crannies of mangroves were also, unfortunately, not protected from the solid waste that found their way into these important coastal habitats.
According to the 2019 World Bank report Marine Pollution in the Caribbean: Not a Minute to Waste, solid waste is one of the major sources of marine pollution in the Caribbean. While plastic represents only 12 percent of the solid waste generated in the region, it is a significant component of marine and coastal litter, as it is resistant to degradation and detrimental to the health of fishes and other marine life.
Data collected by the Jamaica Environment Trust from beach cleanups across the island in 2018 and 2017 shows that plastic (beverage) bottles, plastic bottle caps, and plastic bags continue to be among the top 10 items found on beaches and along Jamaica’s coast.
Speaking at the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada in 2018, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that much more needs to be done not only to address the problem of plastic waste but on all ocean issues.
“Thankfully,” he stated, “we have a battle plan. Our guide is the [17] Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs*), and especially Goal 14 with its 10 targets, from addressing marine pollution and acidification, to ending overfishing and protecting ecosystems.”
By taking action to protect our oceans (SDG 14-Life Below Water), countries will mainstream environmental considerations into other areas of development, such as good health and well-being (SDG 3), ensuring the availability of clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), creating sustainable, resilient and safe communities (SDG 11), and ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12).
With this in mind, the UN Jamaica Country Team continues to coordinate its efforts in supporting Jamaica’s development priorities under the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework in the Caribbean.
The UN Jamaica Team looks forward to another collaborative effort next month on the commemoration of United Nations Day on October 24.
Message from our Coordinator, Dr. Lorna Inniss:
The Cartagena Convention was founded on the basis of cooperation and the deep recognition that the challenges affecting our marine and coastal resources in the Wider Caribbean, along with the need to protect these resources, is a shared concern among all countries. In order to address these issues, we have to work together. Marine pollution, overfishing and exploitation of marine species, for example, are transboundary issues that should be prioritized at the regional level.
The Cartagena Convention Secretariat is committed to serving its Contracting Parties, by providing the support needed to fulfil their obligations under the Convention and its Protocols, as well as advocating for the protection of our threatened marine resources in the region. While we provide a legal framework for the development and conservation of our marine species and ecosystems, it should be recognized that taking action to protect our marine and coastal environment is essentially a shared responsibility. The economic sustainability of the Wider Caribbean is under threat from the impacts of human activities and climate change that destroy coral reefs, which protect our shores, and disrupt the natural balance in the ecosystem.
As users of these resources, we should be more conscious of the way we interact with the environment and recognize that our actions today are impacting our own sustainability and advancement, as well as the future of our children.
Be responsible citizens, and this includes, corporate citizens. Environmental protection starts with you.
Simple actions you can take to help prevent marine pollution include properly discarding litter and solid waste, and to avoid throwing them in gullies, in waterways, and on the streets. Also, avoid Styrofoam products and single-use plastics, and keep a reusable bag with you for purchases. Spread the word and encourage your families and neighbours to adopt these practices.
Make a pledge today, or recommit to doing your part to protect our marine environment, for the economic, social and environmental benefits of people and the planet.
