{"id":76566,"date":"2019-12-13T11:18:12","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T16:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=76566"},"modified":"2019-12-13T11:18:12","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T16:18:12","slug":"actnow-bali-cleanup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2019\/12\/actnow-bali-cleanup\/","title":{"rendered":"ActNow Climate Campaign Inspires Bali Coastal Clean-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 8 million tonnes of plastics enter the world\u2019s oceans each year, and of this, Indonesia contributes 1.29 million tonnes, making it the second-largest plastic polluter to the world\u2019s oceans. The Indonesian government has pledged to reduce its output of plastic into the oceans by 70 percent by 2025.<\/p>\n

The Indonesian tourist island of Bali is leading the way in tackling plastic pollution, with its June 2019 ban on\u00a0all single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene. However, efforts to reduce plastic pollution need to be accelerated. Irreversible damage to the ocean\u2019s ecosystems caused by plastic pollution has already taking place, with research suggesting that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.<\/p>\n

Responding to this, UN in Indonesia joined forces with delegates from the Third Asia World Model United Nations (AWMUN) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for a Coastal Clean-Up at Mertasari Beach, Bali. In November, nearly 1,000 delegates from 78 countries enthusiastically joined the clean-up, demonstrating their strong ambition for clean oceans and seas.<\/p>\n

For Bali, November is the first month of the wet season since the ban on single-use plastics came into effect, and monsoonal rains will wash plastic waste from river banks towards the oceans.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the opening, UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative Christophe Bahuet thanked the change makers for their support in the Coastal Clean-up initiative, while highlighting the urgency and significance of keeping our oceans plastic-free.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure that there are more fish in the ocean than plastic because, if we don\u2019t change our consumption patterns, by 2050, our oceans will have more plastic than fish,\u201d said Mr. Bahuet.<\/p>\n

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Bahuet invited participants to join the ActNow Campaign \u2013 the United Nations\u2019 global call to individual action on climate change. The campaign is a critical part of the UN\u2019s coordinated effort to raise awareness, ambition, and action for climate change and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n<\/div>