Making the Case for Scaling Local Ground-Level Efforts to Reduce Plastic Waste
by Rob Steir, Aarti Desai and Frances Mendoza, CAPP.Global
In 2019, plastic-related emissions were estimated to equal 189 five-hundred megawatt coal power plants. Millions of tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year where they release GHGs as they slowly break down. This may also interfere with the ocean’s capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide. Not to mention, fish eat the plastic and we eat the fish. A 2022 OECD report warns that “in the absence of more stringent policies” we could well see by 2060:
With new global policy frameworks in place, these ominous results could potentially be avoided. Much hope is being placed on the shoulders of the current negotiations of the UN Plastics Treaty, which is due to be concluded at the end of 2024. In theory, the treaty will prompt states, corporations and NGOs to provide resources and financial commitments that fuel new and expanded local plastic waste-reducing initiatives. The projects are expected to carry significant climate change benefits as well:
A Cautionary Tale About Plastic Waste Policy – Let’s Not Repeat the Past
The above policy-led playbook, however, is not new. History has shown that policy guidelines and corresponding commitments have not always been met or made a difference when it comes to reducing plastic pollution. Previous decades of limited action by government and corporations leave a decidedly mixed track record.
Two detailed studies provide supporting evidence. A 2020 report conducted by Ocean Recovery Alliance analyzed 580 voluntary commitments made by countries, NGOs and corporations from 2014-2018. Its main conclusion was that voluntary commitments are often not followed up on, as there is little transparency, nor governance from a higher authority to enforce such commitments. Additionally, a recent study by the University of Portmouth’s Global Plastics Policy Centre broke down 100 global plastic waste policies over the past four decades and found a lack of lasting support, follow-through and, therefore, weaker than expected real-life results.
Today, beyond policies and commitments, there are thousands of “on-the-ground, local initiatives” designed by passionate and knowledgeable leaders who are creating viable solutions to reduce and eliminate plastic waste. This is exactly why CAPP – the Commitments Accelerator for Plastic Pollution – was founded: our goal is to showcase these promising plastic-reducing initiatives and help them scale with much needed capital resources, be learned from, and replicated.
Since its founding, CAPP has conducted three student team “Make the Case” competitions that took place in 2021 and 2022 in India and East Asia.
What We Learned: Important Issues for Relevant Stakeholders
Real impact is happening at the local ground level in every country by dedicated organizations. Their “in-the-trenches” work is often under-reported and underappreciated—surprisingly even by local communities.
Many of these proven initiatives, especially how they operate and what they have learned, could be captured, replicated and scaled to other locations. Some cannot.
Most of these initiatives had an unmet need for additional funds, community support and local government resources to ensure their local sustainability and long-term impact.
By the same token, a large number of these initiatives need to do a better job at “making their own case” for funding by keeping better performance records.
Exposing students to such programs provides a learning platform far beyond any coursework or readings, and creates a pool of students capable of contributing toward solutions to the world’s plastic pollution and climate change problems.
In sum, the UN Plastic Treaty is only likely to be a success should the world’s stakeholders effectively leverage and accelerate the excellent work that many organizations are already doing on the ground to reduce plastic waste.
From the Voices of University and Graduate Students – On Plastic Waste
My co-authors on this article are two students, Aarti Desai from India and Frances Mendoza from the Philippines. They participated on student teams in CAPP’s India and East Asia competitions. I asked them to reflect on the lessons of the competition and the broader implications of scaling local projects from their countries. In addition, CAPP put together a document featuring 40 East Asia student team commentaries about plastic waste and climate change based on surprising facts from 18 infographics within the Plastic Atlas Asia Edition.
To learn more, visit: https://capp.global/mcjarticle
Thoughts From Aarti Desai from India
Thoughts From Frances Mendoza from the Philippines
And the report, “Voices of the Student Generation”
How You Can Get Involved with CAPP and Make a Real Difference
Using one less plastic bag is no more than a basic starting point in the global battle to reduce plastic pollution. If all goes right, within five years, CAPP could help replicate and scale a number of deserving initiatives throughout the world, all of which were championed by student teams. There are a number of ways in which you can be involved: become a sponsor, become a future volunteer case study reviewer, or join our global volunteer team to help flesh out and transform our marketing and outreach programs. Check out https://capp.global/MCJvolunteering to learn more!
🍿 The Lean Back
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