Plastic Pollution Prevention in Pacific Large Ocean Island Developing States (LOSIDS)

Abstract

The rate of plastic pollution entering the environment is accelerating with plastic productionpredicted to increase by 40% over the next decade. Plastic pollution transcends territorial boundarieson ocean and air currents. Large Ocean Small Island Developing States (LOSIDS) are on the frontlineof the plastics crisis and associated climate change impacts. This desktop gap analysis identifiedpotential strengths and weaknesses in national policy frameworks in 52 key documents relevantto plastic pollution in ten Pacific LOSIDS. The study found considerable gaps in the vertical andhorizontal integration of plastic pollution-related policy, and a lack of access to current science-basedevidence on plastic pollution including evidence related to human health impacts and microplastics.The study concludes that, even if Pacific LOSIDS were to include best practice management of plasticpollution across all policy frameworks, they could not prevent plastic pollution, and that a plasticpollution convention is needed