MARINE CHEMICAL POLLUTIONChemical pollution – of land, air, rivers, watersheds – has been a festering issue for decades, occasionally prompting resolute action. But only recently has the scale of chemical pollution become more apparent. Invisible Wave, part of the Back to Blue initiative between Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, brings the issue of marine chemical pollution to a wider audience that includes policymakers, governments, the chemicals industry itself, the broader business community, the finance sector, civil society and consumers.
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An infographic series, drawing from research in the white paper, visualises the causes of chemical pollution, its impacts, and the key steps needed to clean up the sector and, through innovation, to make chemicals an active contributor to a cleaner 21st century economy.
An Economist Impact film highlights how chemicals, vital to modern life, are exerting a negative impact on our oceans and ourselves. Hear from experts about the deterioration of our marine environments, and the need to shift to safer, greener chemicals production – and more responsible useage and disposal.
Chemicals are an essential part of modern life, embedded in everyday products ranging from food packaging to vehicles, consumer technology to medicine. They can improve our quality of life, increase economic productivity and keep us safe.
Developed following an extensive expert stakeholder consultation process, this issues paper examines the key questions that must be addressed to develop an effective and workable roadmap to close the marine pollution data gap.
A zero-pollution ocean will only be possible if policymakers, business leaders and investors have access to sufficient evidence to evaluate the scope, scale and impact of marine pollution and to take action. Download this short discussion paper to read our recommendations.
Think you can live without man-made chemicals? Think again. According to the International Council of Chemical Associations, 95% of all manufactured goods rely on chemical ingredients or processes. Every time an object is made without chemicals, another 99 are made with chemicals.
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. It’s a cliche often attributed to management expert Peter Drucker, but in the case of regulating marine chemical pollution, it appears to be true.
Plastic treaty negotiators must carefully examine the role of chemicals in the transition to a circular plastics economy.
Picture your ideal summer vacation. Sun, sand, sea and… pollution? Chances are you’ve seen plastic bottles on the beach. But have you thought about the chemicals that may be in the sea as you swim?
Scientists suspect that the toll that chemicals exact on the marine environment and the wildlife that inhabits it is far higher than is currently known, to say nothing of its impact on humans.
Most marine chemical pollution begins on land—about 80% versus 20% thought to originate at sea, according to The Invisible Wave—with freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes providing direct or indirect routes to the ocean.
Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative imagines an ocean in robust health, and with a vital economy. Year-round and at our flagship World Ocean Summit, we foster a global conversation on the greatest challenges facing the seas, inspiring bold thinking, new partnerships and the most effective action to build a sustainable ocean economy.
With less than ten years to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, there is a renewed urgency to examine global systems and balance human aspirations with the planet’s ability to sustain them. This is why Economist Impact has launched The Sustainability Project, a content platform and community hub combining insights, innovation and influence. Our aim is to convene and engage global stakeholders who have the power to bring real change.
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Continue reading by downloading the full report: THE INVISIBLE WAVE: GETTING TO ZERO CHEMICAL POLLUTION IN THE OCEAN
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