لاقتصاديات التنوع البيولوجي، وهي المرة الأولى التي يُعتقد أن وزارة المالية أجرت مثل هذه الدراسة، لم يتردد الاقتصادي البارز بجامعة كامبريدج في قول "نعم".

على مدار ما يقارب ثمانية عشر شهرًا تالية، جمع داسغوبتا وفريقه بين الأدلة العلمية والاقتصادية والتاريخية مع النمذجة الرياضية الدقيقة لإنتاج اقتصاديات التنوع البيولوجي: مراجعة داسغوبتا.

يُظهر التقرير التاريخي، الذي نُشر في فبراير 2021، أن النمو الاقتصادي ترتّبت عليه تكلفة مدمرة للطبيعة. يوضح التقرير أن البشرية تدمر أغلى ما لديها - العالم الطبيعي - من خلال العيش بما يتجاوز إمكانات الكوكب، ويسلط الضوء على التقديرات الأخيرة التي تشير إلى أننا بحاجة إلى ما يعادل 1,6 من مساحة الأرض من أجل المحافظة على مستويات العيش الحالية.

عندما تقرأ التوقعات الاقتصادية، فإنهم يتحدثون عن الاستثمار في المصانع، ومعدلات التوظيف، ونمو [الناتج المحلي الإجمالي]. قال داسغوبتا، الحائز على جائزة أبطال الأرض فئة العلوم والابتكار لهذا العام، الخاصة ببرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة (UNEP): "لا يذكرون أبدًا ما يحدث للنظم البيئية". قال: "من الملح حقًا أن نفكر في الأمر الآن".

اقتصاديات التنوع البيولوجي هي أساس لمجال متزايد يعرف باسم محاسبة رأس المال الطبيعي، حيث يحاول الباحثون تقدير قيمة الطبيعة. يمكن أن تساعد هذه الأرقام الحكومات على فهم أفضل للتكاليف الاقتصادية طويلة الأجل المترتبة على قطع الأشجار والتعدين وغيرها من الصناعات المدمرة المحتملة، مما يعزز في النهاية قضية حماية العالم الطبيعي.

قالت إنغر أندرسن، المديرة التنفيذية لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة: "لقد أيقظت مساهمات السير بارثا داسغوبتا الرائدة في الاقتصاد على مدى عقود العالم للاهتمام بقيمة الطبيعة والحاجة إلى حماية النظم البيئية التي تثري اقتصاداتنا ورفاهنا وحياتنا".

الاقتصاد كجزء من "نسيج" متشابك

ولد داسغوبتا عام 1942 فيما يعرف الآن بعاصمة بنغلاديش دكا. (كانت المدينة ذلك الوقت جزءًا من الهند). كان لوالده، الاقتصادي الشهير أميا كومار داسغوبتا، تأثير كبير عليه، وعلى اتخاذه طريقه نحو الأوساط الأكاديمية. بعد حصوله على درجة البكالوريوس في الفيزياء في دلهي، انتقل داسغوبتا إلى المملكة المتحدة حيث درس الرياضيات وحصل لاحقًا على درجة الدكتوراه في الاقتصاد.

من خلال مساهماته العديدة الرئيسية في الاقتصاد والتي قادت لحصوله على وسام فارس في عام 2002، ساعد داسغوبتا في صياغة النقاش العالمي حول التنمية المستدامة واستخدام الموارد الطبيعية.

قال داسغوبتا: "إنها فكرة جميلة جدًا أن كل ما حولك من مصانع الطبيعة ينتج السلع والخدمات: الطيور التي تلقّح النباتات، والسناجب التي تدفن المكسرات، وكل الأشياء التي تحت أقدامنا".

إنه نسيج متشابك محير من الأشياء التي تحدث، وكثير منها لا يمكن ملاحظته. ومع ذلك فإنها تخلق الجو الذي يمكن للبشر وجميع الكائنات الحية أن يعيشوا فيه. يجب إرساء الطريقة التي نقيس بها النجاح أو الفشل الاقتصادي، وقواعد الاقتصاد الكاملة، مع وضع هذا النسيج في الاعتبار".

الشغف بالطبيعة

يُرجِع داسغوبتا اهتمامه بفكرة العيش بشكل مستدام في عالم من الموارد الطبيعية المحدودة إلى ورقته البحثية الكلاسيكية لعام 1969 حول مفهوم السكان الأمثل. شجعه الاقتصادي السويدي كارل غوران مالر في السبعينيات على تطوير أفكاره حول الروابط بين الفقر الريفي وحالة البيئة والموارد الطبيعية في أفقر بلدان العالم، وهو موضوع كان غائبًا بشكل ملحوظ عن اقتصاديات التنمية السائدة في ذلك الوقت.

وقد أدى ذلك إلى مزيد من الاستكشافات للعلاقات بين السكان والموارد الطبيعية والفقر والبيئة، والتي نالت استحسان داسغوبتا.

قال "لدي كرة تدور في هذا المجال". "أحد أسباب كون ذلك ممتعًا هو أنه لم يكن لدي أي منافسة. لم يكن أحد آخر يعمل على ذلك".

تعد الأراضي العشبية والغابات وبحيرات المياه العذبة من بعض نظم داسغوبتا البيئية المفضلة. يعتقد أنه يجب تعليم الأطفال دراسات الطبيعة منذ سن مبكرة، وأن الموضوع يجب أن يكون إلزاميًا مثل القراءة والكتابة والحساب. ويقول: "هذه طريقة واحدة لتوليد بعض الشغف بالطبيعة. إذا كان لديك شغف بالطبيعة ، فمن غير المرجح أن تتحول الطبيعة لنفايات".

الثروة الشاملة

داسغوبتا متحمس بشأن الحاجة إلى استبدال الناتج المحلي الإجمالي (GDP) كمقياس للصحة الاقتصادية للبلدان لأنه يروي جزءًا فقط من القصة. عوضًا عن ذلك، يؤمن "بالثروة الشاملة" التي لا تركّز على رأس المال المالي والمنتج فحسب، بل أيضًا على المهارات الموجودة في القوى العاملة (رأس المال البشري)، والتماسك في المجتمع (رأس المال الاجتماعي)، وقيمة البيئة (رأس المال الطبيعي).

هذه الفكرة جزء لا يتجزأ من دعم الأمم المتحدة نظام المحاسبة الاقتصادية البيئية الذي يسمح للبلدان بتتبع الأصول البيئية، واستخدامها في الاقتصاد، وإعادة تدفقات النفايات والانبعاثات.

قام برنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة (UNEP) بتطوير ملف مؤشر الثروة الشامل. تم حساب المؤشر الآن لنحو 163 دولة، وهو يشير إلى أن الثروة الشاملة توسعت بمعدل 1,8 في المائة في الفترة ما بين 1992-2019، وذلك أقل بكثير من معدل الناتج المحلي الإجمالي، ويرجع ذلك إلى حد كبير إلى الانخفاض في رأس المال الطبيعي.

الطبيعة كأصل رأسمالي

بما يعكس إلحاح عقد الأمم المتحدة لإصلاح النظام الإيكولوجي لمنع تدهور النظام البيئي ووقفه وعكسه، يحذر تقرير داسغوبتا "اقتصاديات التنوع البيولوجي" من أن النظم البيئية الهامة، بدءًا من الشعاب المرجانية ووصولًا إلى الغابات المطيرة، تقترب من نقطة تحول خطيرة، مع عواقب وخيمة على الاقتصادات ورفاه الناس.

يدعو التقرير المؤلف من 600 صفحة إلى إعادة التفكير بشكل جوهري في علاقة البشرية بالطبيعة وكيفية تقييمها، بحجة أن الفشل في تضمين "خدمات النظام الإيكولوجي" في الميزانيات العمومية الوطنية أدى إلى تكثيف استغلال العالم الطبيعي فقط.

قال داسغوبتا: "[يتعلق الأمر] بإدخال الطبيعة كأصل رأسمالي في التفكير الاقتصادي، وإظهار كيف تعتمد الاحتمالات الاقتصادية اعتمادًا كليًا على هذا الكيان المحدود".

كانت الدكتورة بورنيما ديفي بارمان، الفائزة بجائزة أبطال الأرض لهذا العام في مجال الرؤية الريادية، مجرد طفلة عندما أصبح لديها تعلّق بطائر اللقلق، وأصبح هذا الطائر شغف حياتها.

في سن الخامسة، أُرسِلت بارمان للعيش مع جدتها على ضفاف نهر براهمابوترا في ولاية آسام الهندية. انفصلت الفتاة عن والديها وإخوتها، وأصبحت لا أليف لها. لإلهائها، بدأت جدة بارمان، المزارعة، في اصطحابها إلى حقول الرز والأراضي الرطبة القريبة لتعلّمها عن الطيور هناك.

"رأيت طيور اللقلق والعديد من أنواع الطيور الأخرى. علمتني أغاني الطيور. طلبت مني أن أغني لطيور البلشون واللقالق. قالت بارمان، عالمة الأحياء البرية التي كرست أغلب حياتها المهنية لإنقاذ طائر أبو سعن الكبير المهدد بالانقراض، وهو ثاني أندر أنواع اللقلق في العالم، "لقد وقعت في حب الطيور".

أنواع في حالة تدهور

يوجد اليوم أقل من 1.200 طائر من طيور أبو سعن الكبير، أي أقل من واحد في المائة مما كان عليه قبل قرن من الزمان. كان الانخفاض الكبير في أعدادها ناتجًا جزئيًا عن تدمير موائلها الطبيعية. جُفّفت الأراضي الرطبة التي تنمو فيها طيور اللقلق، وتلوّثت، وتدهورت حالتها، واستُبدلت بالمباني والطرق وأبراج الهواتف المحمولة مع تزايد التوسع الحضري في المناطق الريفية. تضمّ الأراضي الرطبة تنوعًا كبيرًا في الحياة الحيوانية والنباتية، ولكنها تختفي في جميع أنحاء العالم أسرع بثلاث مرات من الغابات بسبب الأنشطة البشرية والاحترار العالمي.

الصراع بين الإنسان والحياة البرية

بعد حصولها على درجة الماجستير في علم الحيوان، بدأت بارمان في إعداد رسالة دكتوراة عن طائر أبو سعن الكبير. ولكن، نظرًا لاختفاء العديد من الطيور التي نشأت معها ، قررت تأجيل أطروحتها للتركيز على إبقاء الأنواع على قيد الحياة. بدأت حملتها لحماية اللقلق في عام 2007، وركزت على القرى في مقاطعة كامروب في ولاية آسام حيث تتركز الطيور بشكل أكبر، ويُرحب بها بشكل أقل.

هنا، تُلعن طيور اللقلق لأنها تنبش الجثث، وتجلب العظام والحيوانات الميتة إلى أعشاشها التي تبني الكثير منها في حدائق الناس، وتلقي فضلات كريهة الرائحة. يبلغ ارتفاع هذه الطيور حوالي 5 أقدام (متر ونصف)، ويصل امتداد جناحيها إلى 8 أقدام (متران وأربعون سنتمترًا)، ويفضل القرويون في كثير من الأحيان قطع الأشجار في ساحاتهم الخلفية بدلاً من السماح لطيور اللقلق بأن تعشش فيها. "يُساء فهم الطائر تماماً". تقول بارمان، التي كانت موضع سخرية لمحاولتها إنقاذ مستعمرات التعشيش: "لقد عومل هذا الطائر على أنه فأل سيء أو حظ سيئ أو ناقل للأمراض".

يعد الصراع بين الناس والحياة البرية أحد التهديدات الرئيسية لأنواع الحياة البرية، وفقًا لتقرير صادر في عام 2021 عن الصندوق العالمي لحماية الطبيعة وبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة. يمكن أن يكون لهذا الصراع آثار لا رجعة فيها على النظم البيئية التي تدعم كل أشكال الحياة على الأرض. يمثّل عقد الأمم المتحدة لإصلاح النظم الإيكولوجية فرصة لحشد المجتمع العالمي من أجل إعادة التوازن في العلاقة بين الناس والطبيعة.

جيش هارغيلا

كانت بارمان تدري أنه لحماية اللقلق، يتوجب عليها أن تغيّر التصورات الموجودة عن الطائر المعروف محليًا باسم "هارغيلا"، ويعني هذا الاسم في اللغة الآسامية "مبتلع العظام"، وحشدت مجموعة من نساء القرية لمساعدتها.

يتألف "جيش هارغيلا" اليوم من أكثر من 10.000 امرأة. وهن يحمين مواقع التعشيش، ويعيدن تأهيل طيور اللقلق المصابة التي سقطت من أعشاشها، ويرتّبن حفل "استحمام الفراخ" للاحتفاء بوصول الكتاكيت حديثة الولادة. يظهر أبو سعن الكبير بانتظام في الأغاني الشعبية والقصائد والمهرجانات والمسرحيات.

ساعدت بارمان أيضًا في تزويد النساء بأنوال نسيج وخيوط غزل كي يستطعن صنع المنسوجات المزينة بزخارف الهارغيلا وبيعها. لا تزيد مبادرة الأعمال هذه الوعي بالطائر فحسب، بل تساهم أيضًا في استقلال النساء المالي، وتعزّز سبل عيشهن، وتغرس فيهن الشعور بالاعتزاز، وتعزّز شعورهن بالمسؤولية في عملهن لإنقاذ اللقلق.

منذ أن بدأت بارمان برنامج المحافظة الخاص بها، ارتفع عدد الأعشاش في قرى دادارا وباشاريا وسينغيماري في مقاطعة كامروب من 28 إلى أكثر من 250، مما يجعلها أكبر مستعمرة تكاثر طيور أبو سعن الكبير في العالم. بدأت بارمان في عام 2017 بناء منصات طويلة من الخيزران للطيور المهددة بالانقراض كي تفرّخ فيها بيوضها. وحصلت على نتيجة جهودها بعد عامين عندما فقس أول فراخ طائر أبو سعن الكبير على هذه المنصات التجريبية.

إصلاح النظم البيئية

بالنسبة لبارمان، تعني حماية طائر أبو سعن الكبير حماية موائله وإصلاحها. ساعد جيش هارغيلا المجتمعات المحلية على زراعة 45.000 شتلة بالقرب من أشجار تعشيش اللقلق ومناطق الأراضي الرطبة على أمل دعم جمهرات اللقلق في المستقبل. وهناك خطط لزراعة 60.000 شتلة أخرى العام المقبل. كما تقوم النساء بحملات تنظيف على ضفاف الأنهار والأراضي الرطبة لإزالة البلاستيك من المياه وتقليل التلوث.

قالت إنغر أندرسن، المديرة التنفيذية لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة، "إن عمل بورنيما ديفي بارمان الرائد في مجال الحفاظ على البيئة قد مكّن آلاف النساء، وأوجد رواد أعمال، وحسّن سبل العيش مع إعادة طائر أبو سعن الكبير من حافة الانقراض". "لقد أظهر عمل الدكتورة بارمان أن الصراع بين البشر والحياة البرية يمكن حله لصالح الجميع. من خلال تسليط الضوء على تأثير فقدان الأراضي الرطبة الضار على الأنواع التي تتغذى وتتكاثر فيها، ويذكرنا ذلك بأهمية حماية النظم البيئية وإصلاحها".

تقول بارمان إن أحد أكبر مكافآتها هو الشعور بالفخر الذي غرس في جيش هارغيلا، وتأمل أن يلهم نجاحهن الجيل القادم من أنصار الحفاظ على البيئة لتحقيق أحلامهم. وقالت: "إن كونك امرأة تعمل في مجال الحفظ في مجتمع يهيمن عليه الذكور يمثل تحديًا، لكن جيش هارغيلا أظهر كيف يمكن للمرأة أن تحدث فرقًا".

Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte’s commitment to environmental protection can be traced to the aftermath of the worst storm to hit the Philippines in decades. 

When Typhoon Ketsana struck in 2009, it unleashed ferocious downpours and floods that submerged roads and forced residents onto their rooftops for refuge. As the floodwaters receded, they left a river of plastic bags, sachets and other litter in their wake. 

That sight left a lasting impact on Belmonte, who successfully ran for vice mayor of Quezon City in 2009 before becoming its mayor in 2019.

“I'm a good governance advocate,” Belmonte told the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Good governance involves good stewardship of the environment.” 

Only the second female mayor in the history of Quezon City, home to 3.1 million, Belmonte has pursued a raft of policies to end plastic pollution, counter climate change and green the city.

For her efforts to transform Quezon City into an environmental trailblazer, Belmonte has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership, one of the UN’s highest environmental honours.

"Mayor Josefina Belmonte’s passionate leadership and policy achievements exemplify how local authorities can solve global environmental problems,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Cities can be the dynamic engines of change we need to overcome the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste – and mayors can help to lead that charge.

Fighting the throwaway culture 
Quezon City was the Philippines’ capital for 27 years until the title returned to Manila in 1976. Today, it is the country’s most populous city and is part of Metro Manila.

Belmonte’s connections to this place run deep. Not only was she born and raised here, but her father, Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, was its ninth mayor.

Despite an early exposure to politics, Belmonte’s interests initially led her elsewhere – including to a career as an archaeologist. But in the end, the call to public service proved too strong. 

“If you can be in a position where you can be a source of inspiration to others and become the root of positive change for millions of people, then it is worth it,” she said.

For Belmonte, positive change means prioritizing action on the environment to create a liveable, green and sustainable city.

Under Belmonte’s leadership, Quezon City has focused on reducing plastic pollution and extending the life of plastic products already in circulation.

“Plastic pollution is a major problem in the Philippines, as in many parts of the world, because of the throwaway culture,” Belmonte said. “Plastics clog our drainage systems and end up in the oceans. We know that plastic waste becomes microplastics that can be consumed in the food we eat, the air we breathe and even in the water we drink, which affects our health.”

Globally, humanity’s addiction to short-lived plastic products has created an environmental catastrophe . Around 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic annually leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. To stem that flow, experts say the world must fundamentally alter its relationship with plastic by using less of the material, eliminating single-use products, reusing what plastics are produced and finding environmentally friendly alternatives.

Under Belmonte, Quezon City has banned single-use plastic bags, cutlery, straws and containers in hotels, restaurants and fast-food chains for dine-in customers, as well as single-use packaging material.

Since 2021, residents have been able to trade in their recyclables and single-use plastic products for environmental points that can be used to buy food and pay electricity bills under the “Trash to Cashback” scheme. City authorities have even started a “Vote to Tote” programme to turn tarpaulins used in election campaigning into bags.

Still, millions of single-use plastic sachets are thrown away every day in the Philippines, which is a major source of ocean plastics. Though sachets allow households more affordable access to essentials for cooking, hygiene and sanitation, they cannot be recycled effectively, causing serious environmental harm, experts say.

“Sachet culture really gets to me. It really is something that makes me angry because it is there because we are a poor country,” Belmonte said. “Major manufacturers need to do their part and change the way they package products to make them more environmentally friendly.”

To combat plastic pollution, Belmonte launched in 2023 an initiative to help put refill stations for essentials, such as washing-up liquid and liquid detergent, in convenience stores across the city. With products that are often less expensive than their packaged counterparts, the stations have been received positively and will be piloted in over 6,000 stores next year, Belmonte said.

Last year, a historic UN resolution was passed to develop a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution. Belmonte has been vocal about the need for a “truly ambitious” global instrument.

“Mayors want to be part of the negotiating table because we have very practical experience to bring,” she said. “The real work is at the level of cities. We already know that when change happens at the level of cities, it happens much more rapidly.”

Earning trust

Under Belmonte, Quezon City has also developed an ambitious plan to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 per cent in 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. It has declared a state of climate emergency to unlock spending, amounting to 11–13 per cent of the city’s annual budget, on programmes that mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.

There are plans to double the number of parks in the city, introduce more electric buses and almost quadruple the network of bike lanes by 2030 to fight pollution. Other green initiatives include promoting urban farming and deploying equipment that allows community farms to transform organic waste into methane gas that can be used for cooking.

Although Belmonte has worked hard to forge her own path, she considers one piece of advice from her father to be priceless: “Always spend time with the people. Especially go to the poor communities, because when you go to the communities and you see how difficult life is for people in the grassroots, you'll never think of abusing power.”

It is advice that has shaped her political approach, helped her to build public trust and contributed to her popularity among voters. She was re-elected mayor in 2022 and regularly scores the highest approval ratings among metro Manila’s mayors.

“People will buy into your vision if you value what they have to say. That is the best way to get all of our environmental issues across,” Belmonte said.

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)Champions of the Earth honours individuals and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations. 

Ellen MacArthur was only 24 when she secured a place in the history books by becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world in 2001. Four years later, she broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, taking just over 71 days to complete the voyage.

Her account of battling squally gales, skirting icebergs and narrowly avoiding a collision with a whale enthralled millions. The mental and physical exertion of sailing, the freedom of the high seas, the thrill of being immersed in the breathtaking power and beauty of the ocean were all MacArthur ever dreamed of. 

Then, at the peak of her career, she retired from competitive sailing and changed course entirely. 

Time spent alone at sea, surviving on limited supplies of food, water and fuel, had given MacArthur an acute awareness of what it meant to live with finite means. She saw a parallel with humanity, which was consuming beyond what the Earth could provide. 

“You cannot use up finite resources in a world with a growing population. It just cannot work,” MacArthur told the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “We need to rethink and redesign our entire economic model.”  

In 2010, the trailblazer set up the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to rally support for a more circular global economy focused on eliminating waste and pollution – including from plastics –promoting the reuse of products and materials, and regenerating nature. 

For its efforts, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been named 2023 Champion of the Earth for Inspiration and Action, one of the United Nations’ highest environmental honours.

“We need a systemic transformation to address the plastic pollution crisis,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been instrumental in engaging businesses and decision makers, enabling large-scale solutions that can steer us toward a future unblighted by plastic pollution.”

From a straight line to a circle 
Since the launch of its first report in 2012 at the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, the foundation has radically shifted the discourse of some of the most powerful global corporations and helped governments understand the changes needed to create more sustainable economies. 

It has spearheaded global initiatives on plastics, fashion and food, while creating a network of business leaders, policymakers and academics to pilot sustainable practices. This year, it launched the Circular Startup Index, a public database featuring more than 500 start-ups accelerating the transition to a circular economy. The foundation has also helped to develop the curriculum for the first-ever Master of Business Administration focused on this model.

Today, 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, two-thirds of which quickly becomes waste. Plastic pollution causes between US$300 billion and US$600 billion a year in social and economic costs and has precipitated what has been called an environmental catastrophe by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

When the Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched in 2010, few were talking about plastic pollution.

In 2016, the foundation produced the first big global study on plastic packaging. Its findings, which immediately captured headlines around the world, were a wake-up call. The report concluded that most plastic packaging is used only once and that 95 per cent of the value of plastic packaging material, worth a staggering US$80 billion to US$120 billion annually, is lost to the economy.

A follow-up report in 2017 showed that, without fundamental redesign and innovation, about 30 per cent of plastic packaging will never be reused or recycled.

“Plastics are very high volume, low value. They are the ultimate linear economy example,” MacArthur said. “If we really want to shift from a linear to circular economy, then this is a really good place to start.”

By 2040, a shift to a lifecycle approach could reduce the volume of plastics entering the environment by over 80 per cent, slash virgin plastic production by 55 per cent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent. Redesigning how humanity produces, uses, recovers and disposes of plastic could also save US$4.5 trillion by 2040.

In collaboration with UNEP, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation leads the New Plastics Economy; Global Commitment. It unites more than 1,000 organizations – including consumer goods giants such as H&M, PepsiCo and the Coca-Cola Company – as well as governments representing 1 billion people behind a common vision to stop plastic from becoming waste.

Lessons and data from the Global Commitment offer valuable insights as negotiators push for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution by 2024.

A third round of negotiations on the instrument’s draft document is due to start in Nairobi on 13 November. Observers say the final instrument could be the most significant multilateral environmental pact since the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. 

For the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the deal must prioritize the shift from single-use to reusable plastic products.

Discussing the future, MacArthur hopes that the lifecycle approach will one day be so normal that the foundation will no longer be needed.

“One thing that ocean racing and record-breaking teaches you is the importance of the goal,” MacArthur said. “You have to be driven, and you have to understand exactly where you're trying to get. I see the circular economy as an opportunity. It's such a fantastic place to get to.”

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

UNEP’s Champions of the Earth honours individuals, groups and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution, a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations. 

In a scene unchanged for generations, fishers rise before dawn to trawl the coastal waters of China’s Zhejiang province, hoping for a bountiful catch.

These days, many are just as likely to return to shore with a cargo hold full of plastic as they are with fish.

That is because since 2019, the Blue Circle environmental initiative has paid Zhejiang’s fishers – and residents in coastal communities– to collect plastic debris, such as bags, bottles and discarded fishing nets.

The plan is part of an ambitious effort, backed by cutting-edge equipment and blockchain technology, to remove and manage plastic pollution along parts of the province’s 6,600km coastline. The push is also designed to provide benefits to local communities.

Since its launch, the initiative has enlisted the help of 10,240 boats and 6,300 fishers and local residents to recycle nearly 2,500 tonnes of plastic.

“We hope that Blue Circle’s marine waste management model can expand beyond this country and to the world, galvanizing more people into action to address marine pollution,” said Chen Yuan, marine ecological environment division chief from the Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang province.

For its contribution to fighting plastic pollution, Blue Circle has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision , one of the United Nations’ highest environmental honours.

“Humanity’s addiction to plastic is threatening the health of our planet, our well-being and our prosperity,” said Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “To ensure a just transition and improve livelihoods, we must embrace innovation. Blue Circle is demonstrating what is possible when technology and sustainability come together.”

Novel solutions 
Developed by the Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang province and Zhejiang Lanjing Technology, Blue Circle says it is the largest marine plastic waste recycling programme in China.

The initiative has developed a digital platform that uses blockchain technology and internet-based tracking to chart the journey of individual plastic pieces.

Live feeds from boats, ports and production lines, along with interactive maps, catalogue the collection, shipment, storage, recycling and remanufacturing of plastic. Shoppers can access that information by scanning QR codes on goods made of certified plastic from the ocean.

Blue Circle’s use of blockchain technology and the web offers an exciting glimpse into the future of environmental action.

“We have created a digital platform that can serve as a model for the world,” said Chen Yahong, general manager of the Marine Business division of Zhejiang Lanjing Technology, in an interview with UNEP.

By 2025, Blue Circle plans to make its digital system public and expand to integrate a range of businesses, including small and informal sector, governments, and public welfare organizations.

Humanity’s’ produce-use-and-discard’ approach to plastic is causing an environmental nightmare. More than 90 per cent of plastic that has ever been produced is buried, burned or has leaked into the environment, usually after just a single use. Emissions linked to this short-sighted approach could account for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions under the most ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement by 2040.

Benefit to fishing communities 
Alongside tea growing and silk farming, fishing is a pillar of Zhejiang’s rural economy. But it is not the industry it used to be due to the ageing demographic of coastal areas.

To help low-income communities, Blue Circle offers a range of financial incentives and benefits. It pays its “ocean cleaners” 0.2 Chinese yuan (US¢3) for every plastic bottle collected, about seven times more than the market rate.

Blue Circle members are able to access basic social security insurance and low-interest loans from banks and rural credit unions via a digital platform. So far, loans worth up to 130 million yuan (US$18 million) have been issued under the scheme.

The initiative has also established a “prosperity fund” financed by profits from the sale of plastic particles to manufacturing companies. Through the fund, plastic waste collectors earn an average of 1,200 yuan (US$165) per month. By working with the government and businesses, Blue Circle has supported over 6,000 low-income residents and fishers in coastal areas.

“Zhejiang comprehensively practices environmental protection in all sectors in collaboration with governments, enterprises and the public. This promotes economic growth and protects marine ecosystems, and people in Zhejiang look forward to a beautiful natural environment and high-quality ecological space,” said Chen Yuan.

Globally, UNEP works with governments and businesses to promote a just transition for plastics , including in developing countries. This entails ensuring sustainable production and consumption of plastics in a manner that is fair and inclusive of everyone concerned, including waste pickers and other workers in the plastics value chain. The adoption of digital solutions and the promotion of transparency can play a pivotal role in realizing these objectives. Furthermore, this approach not only promotes decent job opportunities but is also essential for ensuring inclusivity, a critical factor in achieving this endeavour, experts say.

Harmony with nature 
China still produces some 30 per cent of the world’s plastic, but the country has been taking steps to address plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.

China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018 and no longer receives much of the developed world’s plastic scrap. More recently, the government has unveiled plans to phase out all single-use and non-biodegradable plastic products by 2025.

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has recognized Blue Circle’s work as worthy of being promoted across the country. With further backing from government departments at all levels, Blue Circle hopes to significantly expand its activities to cover 289 ports in nine coastal provinces and two municipalities by 2025.

According to Chen Yuan from the Department of Ecology and Environment, much of Blue Circle’s success comes from the mutual benefits the project is designed to bring to fishing communities: income for cleaner coastal waters.

He also points to the province’s track record in environmental action. In 2018, Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme was named a Champion of the Earth. Zhejiang’s green drive gained significant momentum when President Xi Jinping, then party chief of the province, visited the forested, hillside town of Anji in 2003. There, Xi extolled the virtues of protecting nature and famously said, “clear waters and lush mountains are as invaluable as silver and gold.”

Chen Yuan said: “People have indeed seen with their own eyes that clear waters and green mountains are worth the price of gold.”

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)Champions of the Earth honours individuals and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations. 

It was only when José Manuel Moller began living on the outskirts of Santiago in a low-income neighbourhood that he experienced what is known as "poverty tax" – the extra costs people incur due to their economic circumstances.

A university student at the time, Moller was in charge of buying groceries for the house he shared with friends. Unlike in more affluent areas of the Chilean capital, there were few big supermarket chains in the area. So, most residents relied on local convenience stores that sold smaller quantities of essentials like cooking oil, beans and detergent – but at a premium.

Moller estimates he was paying up to 60 per cent more than if he had bought the same goods in bulk, and that plastic packaging was both inflating prices and creating an environmental problem.

"You realize that something unfair is happening," Moller told the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "We are pushing lower-income consumers to pay more for packaging that ends up being a problem for sustainability and waste in the same neighbourhoods. The equation is wrong but to change this, you need to change the system."

To address what is a global issue, the 35-year-old founded Algramo (meaning "by the gram" in Spanish) in 2012. The social enterprise works with a range of retailers, from local shopkeepers to global brands, to encourage customers to use prefilled and refillable plastic containers for basics, such as dish soap and washing-up liquid. These household staples can be bought by the gram, with consumers paying the same per unit no matter how much or how little they buy.

Since 2020, Algramo customers have reused more than 900,000 pieces of packaging, keeping more than 100 tonnes of plastic from becoming waste.

For his efforts, Moller has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision , one of the United Nations' highest environmental honours. Moller also works to galvanize the zero-waste movement through his role as vice chair of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, an initiative set up in March 2023. The board helps raise awareness of the need to prevent, reduce and sustainably manage waste.

"How humanity produces, consumes and disposes of plastic has created a disaster," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. "José Manuel Moller's work shows us that reusing plastic can enable a range of economic, social and environment benefits, which is crucial to transforming our relationship with this material."

Driving the refill revolution 
Less than10 per cent of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest is buried, burned or leaks into the environment, usually after just a single use. That plastic infiltrates land and sea and often makes its way into the human food chain.

To end the plastic pollution crisis , experts say it is crucial to find solutions that tackle the negative impacts of plastic products at all stages of their life cycle.

For Moller, encouraging consumers to make more sustainable choices is a key part of that process.

"The challenge around sustainability is not only about technology, it is also about consumer behaviour. I started thinking about how I could make people fall in love with an empty bottle,” Moller said. 

In Chile, Algramo has partnered with convenience stores to allow shoppers to buy products in reusable bottles, with consumers returning their old containers when they do. At large retailers, Algramo has installed dispensing stations where customers can refill their own receptacles. The business is aiming to have more than 50 dispensing locations in the country by the end of the year.

Customers can also pay for orders via a phone app. Each container is fitted with a radio-frequency-based tag, a kind of smart barcode linked to an online account. The account tracks purchases and customers are rewarded every time the container is reused with a cash incentive. The money pops up in a virtual wallet, which can then be used as a discount on future purchases.

"Algramo believes that the solution to plastic pollution must not only be for high-income millennial vegetarians," said Moller. "This should be designed for everyone, who, at the end of the day, make decisions based on price. So, the approach of Algramo has always been affordability."

An ambition to change the world 
For refill systems to become truly mainstream, Moller knows the importance of operating on a larger scale.

In recent years, Algramo has focused on expanding into other countries, including by providing expertise and software to other start-ups. Its greatest achievement, Moller said, has been convincing some of the world's biggest consumer goods companies to offer refill services for some products.

"Algramo has an ambition to change the world, not to offer detergent," Moller said. "I'm not excited about selling powder detergent or laundry detergent, I'm excited about changing the industry to move the needle on packaging and solving the poverty tax."

In Indonesia, Algramo is trialling a project in collaboration with Nestlé for two of its products, including a chocolate beverage. It is preparing to enter the Mexican market, having embarked on partnerships with Walmart and Target in the United States. It also has a partnership with a Lidl retail store in Birmingham, England, that allows customers to refill laundry detergent.

Despite the best efforts of social enterprises like Algramo, Moller admits there is a limit to what they can achieve. Ultimately, government regulation is needed to counter the rising tide of plastic pollution, he says.

"How do we push companies to do more than what the regulations are asking them to do?" Moller asks. "That is one of the main problems that we have today."

Moller says he feels an urgent need to shift consumer habits and make reusing plastics part of daily life. That drive stems from the fear that time is running out to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, he told UNEP.

In its latest report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow at current rates, the planet would be on track to breach the most ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement between 2030 and 2035.

Addressing plastic pollution is critical to countering the climate crisis, experts say. The production, use and disposal of conventional fossil fuel-based plastics is responsible for more than 3 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

"Reducing plastic pollution is relevant, it is urgent, and we are running late," Moller said.

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

UNEP's Champions of the Earth honours individuals, groups and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN's highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations.