Marine plastic pollution: UNESCO’s key initiatives

MEDIA ADVISORY   Marine plastic pollution: UNESCO's key initiatives   Paris, 17 May – From 29 May to 2 June 2023, UNESCO will host the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution led by UNEP and France. You will find below our Organization's key initiatives to combat plastic pollution in the ocean and freshwater. A press briefing with our experts will be held on Wednesday 24 May, to provide key figures and discuss solutions to address this global issue.   Online press briefing: Wednesday 24 May – 15:30 CET Please register here.   Julian BARBIERE, Head of Marine Policy & Regional coordination, UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) Fanny DOUVERE, Head of World Heritage Centre's Marine Programme, UNESCO Sarantuyaa ZANDARYAA, Programme Specialist for Water Quality, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP)   UNESCO'S INITIATIVES TO FIGHT PLASTIC POLLUTION   UNESCO mandate   As the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO has developed a multidisciplinary expertise on plastic pollution. The Organization has been central to advancing knowledge, promoting research, developing innovative solutions, and raising the global alarm on the risks posed by plastics and microplastics in marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity.   UNESCO has helped to produce some of the most comprehensive and authoritative research into the topic of global marine plastic pollution. One such publication, the UNESCO-IOC/GESAMP Report looking into the 'Sources, Fate and Effects of plastics and micro-plastics in the marine environment', remains among the most well-cited resources on marine plastics, and serves as a reference point for many academics in this field.   The work carried out by experts in UNESCO-IOC-led Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection also contributed in 2022 to the adoption of a UN Resolution entitled "End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument".   Microplastics: tackling a growing global threat   Microplastics have been found in rivers, lakes, groundwater, oceans and even in our drinking water, bottled water and beer. While scientific information remains limited on the extent, health risks, and environmental impact of these small particles, UNESCO-IHP has provided a preliminary assessment of microplastics in freshwater environments and identified the knowledge gaps to be filled.   UNESCO-IHP is leading research promotion and knowledge generation on reducing freshwater microplastic pollution. It has notably supported a research project which has produced new scientific evidence that fish and aquatic organisms mistakenly ingest microplastics instead of microorganisms (planktons), resulting in their reduced growth and reproduction. This issue impacts the entire food chain, which may result in less and smaller fish for human consumption. Microplastics also act as vectors for other pollutants and chemicals to enter species, since their hard surface adsorbs pollutants to stick to them.   Rivers are one of main pathways through which microplastics are transported to the ocean from land-based human activities. In developing regions 90% of microplastics in the ocean arrive there through riverways. UNESCO is partnering in an innovative new global program 'Healthy Rivers, Healthy Oceans' that will generate knowledge and solutions to address oceanic plastic pollution at its source.   Assessing Plastic Pollution in the Arctic Ocean   Plastic waste is found even in the most remote arctic regions, often carried by ocean currents from more populated areas. The Arctic Ocean has become a dead end for floating plastic debris, due to the limited number of unfrozen waterways through which this plastic can escape.   UNESCO-IOC has made arctic plastic a priority by partnered with scientists and decision-makers in the International Symposium on Plastics in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Region. This process is designed to study how this waste arrives in the Arctic, develop mitigation methods, and measure the impact on local communities who base their livelihoods on ocean-based activities.   Testing-grounds for a plastic-free world   The 738 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and the 257 UNESCO natural and mixed World Heritage sites represent veritable Petri dishes of sustainable living for the millions of people who live there: these communities learn to develop economically without sacrificing their natural environment.   Taking the lead on researching and reducing marine plastics, and cleaning up existing marine debris are just some of the ways these areas chart a new course for humans to live in harmony with nature. The Zero Plastic in Biosphere Reserves initiative began with the Zero Plastic campaign on the island of Lanzarote in Spain. The Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An archipelago in Vietnam began eliminating single-use plastics soon after being recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2009. The island of Príncipe in São Tomé and Principe was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2012, and just two years later launched a 'no plastic: a small gesture in our hands' campaign.   The Sunderbans is the largest delta and mangrove forest in the world, spanning across India and Bangladesh. In March 2023, Bangladesh announced a single-use plastic ban on their section of mangroves that lie within their borders. In the Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles), a beach clean-up expedition removed 25 tons of waste and discarded fishing gear, including 60,000 flipflops. Monitoring scientific publications on plastic pollution   As the United Nations' leading scientific agency, UNESCO monitors, compiles and analyses publications from all major academic journals through its UNESCO Science Reports, allowing it to measure the progress of research on plastic pollution in the most recent edition.   On the topic of eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, global scientific output on more than doubled during the last decade (2011–2019). Lower middle-income economies' contributions to this topic surged from just 7.2% to 18.2%, and Indonesian scientists lead the way by publishing at 5 times the global average proportion during this period.   On the topic of floating plastic in the oceans, global scientific output grew twentyfold over the past decade from a low starting point, with the USA, UK and China leading in total number of published articles, while output surged in several developing countries, including Brazil and Indonesia.   While research on marine plastic pollution is well advanced, research on freshwater microplastic pollution is in its early stage.   Read more Photos of plastic pollution in marine areas Zero Plastic in Biosphere Reserves initiative Are we using science for sustainable development? Study from the UNESCO Science Report (2021) UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission   Press contact François Wibaux, f.wibaux@unesco.org, +33145680746   UNESCO Newsroom All our press releases   Social media

If you would rather not receive future communications from UNESCO, let us know by clicking here.
UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, PARIS, NA FRANCE France

Vol. 3, No. 5: The Cultural Diversity Issue

Welcome to the May IFLA Newsletter, focused on Cultural Diversity!

May 2023  —  Vol. 3, No. 5 View in your browser → THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY ISSUE Welcome to the May 2023 edition of the IFLA Newsletter! 21 May is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, making a clear link between the richness and variety of our cultures, and the success of our societies as a whole.   What is it that libraries can do to continue to nurture our spaces to support cultural diversity? What can we do to help remove any barriers, restrictions, and obstacles to these spaces to enable meaningful interculturalism?   Read the full editorial → IFLA WELCOMES SHARON MEMIS AS NEW SECRETARY GENERAL, EFFECTIVE 1 JUNE In breaking news, IFLA is delighted to announce the appointment of Sharon Memis as the new Secretary General. Sharon's appointment was a unanimous decision of the Governing Board following a global search and recruitment process. Sharon has been introduced to the IFLA HQ team and will begin her role in earnest on 1 June 2023. She will join the June meeting of the Governing Board and is looking forward to meeting members and delegates at WLIC 2023 in Rotterdam. For more information about her, please refer to the welcoming letter from the IFLA President. Read more → IN THE FIELD IFLA's President Barbara Lison engaged with members around the world this month, with visits across three continents. In India, she delivered a speech at the International Library and Information Professional Summit I-LIPS conference, as well as meeting with colleagues from the DELNET consortium. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, she spoke at a conference of the Library Association of Bangladesh and met with the national UNESCO Commission, featuring on the national news. Thanks to the great support of the Library of Congress of Argentina, Barbara participated in a busy programme of events around the Buenos Aires Book Fair, including meeting with ministers, talking about IFLA's work on sustainable development, and engaging with regional organisations. Finally, she attended the 1st Austrian Library Conference, co-organised by the country's two main library associations. GOVERNING BOARD On 17 April, IFLA's Governing Board met. They received updates on and discussed next steps in the plan for securing IFLA's future, including noting the finalisation of the first IFLA Handbook for volunteers and deciding to hold an in-person World Library and Information Congress in 2025. At the meeting in June, the Governing Board will welcome a new member, Loida Garcia Febo, who joins as a result of her election as chair of the Standing Committee of the Management of Library Associations Section. Read more → IFLA ELECTIONS 2023 Congratulations to elected volunteers in IFLA's committees IFLA's members have elected hundreds of volunteers who will take up their terms of office in August 2023. They join others who are continuing their terms and together form the huge engine that powers the work of IFLA for the global library field. Read more → POLICY AND ADVOCACY IFLA and UNESCO celebrate 30 Years of World Press Freedom Day with Documentary Heritage World Press Freedom Day (3 May) pays homage to freedom of the press as an essential part of democratic, informed, and participatory societies. It calls for a reflection on its history, evaluation of the current state of press freedom around the world, and remembrance of those journalists who have lost their lives providing access to information. Read more → New briefing on digital public goods There are a number of ways in which libraries can engage with the concept of digital public goods, which has become more and more prominent in discussions about about the future of internet governance, and development in general. This briefing explains what they are, and why they are relevant. Read more → Libraries stand out in Special Rapporteur's Report on Cultural Rights of Migrants Libraries not only depend on human rights to deliver their services – they actively contribute to their realisation. The values of libraries and many aspects of their missions are interlinked with ensuring access to information and freedom of expression. Both of these fundamental freedoms are also aspects of cultural rights. For their many actions to enable participation in cultural life, libraries can be considered cultural rights defenders. Read more → From open science to sustainable development: libraries as essential infrastructures As part of the UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, IFLA was proud to host a side-event focused on how libraries help make open science work in ways that maximise its contribution to development. At the heart of this is the need to apply principles of sustainable development – leaving no-one behind, taking a holistic approach – to open science itself. Read more → IFLA Celebrates World Book Day with a spotlight on Indigenous Languages Every year, UNESCO invites the international community to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April. This day recognises books as a "link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures" and calls for celebrations of the power and joy of books. Read more → PROFESSIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT Czech libraries provide support for Ukrainian refugees The Czech Republic, with its population of over 10.5 million and its more than 5,000 libraries, is often considered the country with the densest library network in the world. Not long after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the country became a temporary home for nearly half a million refugees (mostly women, children and the elderly). Czech libraries have reacted very quickly to the influx and began providing support for incoming refugees. Read more from the IFLA Public Libraries Section about services and support provided by libraries in the Czech Republic. Read more → REGIONAL FOCUS Empowering individuals to drive national, regional and global development: Libraries at the LAC SDG Forum Libraries had a strong presence at the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, through engagement in sessions, direct contact with delegates, and a side-event focused on how libraries empower people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Read more → Leading Change for Libraries IFLA's Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee's launched the In-Country Library Advocacy Co-Design Team with the aim of leading change for libraries in the region. This initiative is part of the IFLA SSA's global advocacy priorities that identifies and addresses core library advocacy issues specific to various African countries. Read more → WLIC 2023 UPDATE Ready for Rotterdam? WLIC 2023 Congress programme now available! We're pleased to announce that the #WLIC2023 Programme is now live on the Congress website. A wealth of innovative and thought-provoking sessions awaits you! Now's the time to explore the Congress Programme, pick sessions of your choice and set your agenda. Dive in!  → Early Bird Deadline Extended The deadline for the #WLIC2023 Early Bird registration rate has been extended to 23 May. Don't miss this chance to save big! Register today → IFLA Emerging Leader Grants In 2023, IFLA is offering WLIC attendance grants to emerging leaders. These grants aim to empower and motivate young professionals to engage with the international library field. The grants specifically target emerging leaders in the library field 25 – 35 years of age and who are personal members of IFLA or staff of an IFLA institutional member. Read more and apply → Check out "Everything you always wanted to know about Dutch libraries"! Ready to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Dutch Libraries? Watch this video for some inspiring stories and creative innovations straight from the heart of the Dutch library network! Watch the video → Follow the WLIC social media accounts below to ensure you don't miss any updates! UPCOMING EVENTS 25 May Libraries of the Future – Session I Professional Division F 24 - 27 May Mid-year Meeting for IFLA Section Libraries for Children and Young Adults - Singapore IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section 3 June High-performing Schools with Effective School Libraries, Part IV Professional Division F 5 June SET Series for LIS Students: Preparing for IFLA WLIC 2023 IFLA Education and Training Section 7 June Sustainable Development Goals and Library Associations: Asia/Oceania Regional Division IFLA MLAS, NPSIG and ENSULIB & AO RDC 10 June Libraries of the Future – Session II Professional Division F 15 June SET Series for LIS Students – Boost your leadership confidence: Coaching for LIS students IFLA Education and Training Section and Professional Division C 20 June Text and Data Mining Work at Virginia Tech University Libraries IFLA Science and Technology Libraries Section NEW MEMBERS IFLA warmly welcomes the following new members: FIMS Graduate Library, Western University – Canada Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health – Morocco Port Authority of Douala – Cameroon We look forward to your engagement and involvement! SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT Want to get featured here? Don't forget to use the #IFLA hashtag! Not yet subscribed? Sign up 📩 to the IFLA Newsletter here → Update your preferences / Unsubscribe