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China is taking significant steps to address the pressing issue of marine litter through a comprehensive three-year campaign focused on its coastal regions.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment along with other government bodies, the initiative aims to clean up 65 critical bay areas by 2025 and establish regular maintenance routines by 2027.
The campaign is marked by enhanced oversight from top environmental authorities. They plan to closely monitor the progress and integrate marine litter management into broader ecological and environmental protection goals.
This approach acknowledges the significant public concern about pollution in coastal areas, especially near urban centers.
Local governments have been tasked with creating and implementing a robust system to tackle waste. This involves monitoring, intercepting, collecting, salvaging, transporting, and processing marine litter.
The strategy is multi-faceted, aiming not only to clean up existing debris but also to prevent inland waste from reaching the oceans.
A recent report highlighted the severity of the situation, revealing that there are 3,719 pieces of floating garbage per square kilometer of ocean surface.
The United Nations also underscores the gravity of the problem, estimating that tens of millions of tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually. Projections suggest this could triple in the next two decades without decisive action.
The urgency of the issue in China is accentuated by the rise in urban and fishing activities. Last year, the tragic discovery of a pregnant sperm whale with substantial plastic waste in its body brought the issue to widespread public attention and underscored the need for immediate action.
China’s intensified efforts include its five-year marine environment protection plan launched in 2022, which emphasizes waste management.
The updated Marine Environment Law now mandates the establishment of a waste prevention system and enforces stricter penalties for ocean pollution.
Several local governments have already begun their own initiatives. For instance, Shenzhen, a major tech hub, became the first city in China to implement regular clean-ups of floating ocean garbage in its coastal areas in 2021.
More recently, Ningde launched a campaign to promote the use of environmentally-friendly fishing rafts, reflecting a broader trend toward sustainable practices.
Key Components of the Campaign:
- Monitoring: Continuous observation of marine litter levels.
- Interception and Collection: Systems in place to capture waste before it disperses.
- Transportation and Processing: Efficient methods for moving and treating collected waste.
- Prevention: Strategies to stop inland waste from reaching the sea.
This coordinated effort underscores China’s commitment to mitigating marine pollution and protecting its coastal environments for future generations.
