Context

The Famous Challenge: ‘Action for Oceans’

While it’s easy to view our vast oceans as limitless, assuming that a small amount of pollution is just “a drop in the ocean” and therefore insignificant, the reality is quite different. The impact of pollution on our marine ecosystems is not only significant but also devastating, with far-reaching effects on human health.

Plastic pollution in our oceans is a critical global issue. Each year, cities worldwide generate millions of tons of plastic waste that end up in our oceans, posing a substantial threat to marine ecosystems. This plastic debris, from large, discarded fishing nets to microplastics, can harm and even kill marine life such as turtles, seabirds, and whales that ingest or become entangled in it. It has been observed recently that microplastics, which are tiny fragments less than 5mm in size, have been known to enter the food chain when ingested by marine life, potentially impacting human health.

So, where does all this waste come from? The reasons for ocean plastic pollution are diverse, including littering, inadequate waste management, and industrial leakage, among others. Single-use plastics are a significant contributor, underscoring the urgent need for alternatives. This is clearly a global issue and calls for a collective effort towards sustainable solutions.

Some examples and key facts of the impacts of plastic pollution on our oceans and marine life are below:

Here’s a sobering thought – Research states that, by 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. Plastic debris makes up 80% of all marine debris. Marine species ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in length. These are harmful to both the environment, and human and animal health. They enter natural ecosystems and are often consumed by marine animals. Their long-term effects on human and animal health are emerging and being studied.

Have you heard of the Pacific Garbage Patch? It is a vast area in the North Pacific Ocean, filled with marine debris. It spans from North America’s west coast to Japan. The patch covers 1.6 million square kilometres. The number of debris is believed to have increased “10-fold each decade” since 1945.

Tackling plastic pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. It needs concerted efforts from all stakeholders. These include governments, businesses, civil society and individuals. We must reduce our consumption of single-use plastics and replace them with reusable alternatives. Governments should implement bans on single-use plastics. Improving waste management systems and promoting a circular economy are crucial. Raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution can drive behavioural changes. Each small step contributes to a larger impact in combating this global issue.

The Challenge

The Famous Challenge: Action for Ocean is a video competition for students, which aims to engage students globally on the topic of Oceans and the impact of human activities, especially the waste that we generate, on its health. We invite participation from students across three continents to capture through their perspective, short videos on the impact of the waste generated in their local areas and connect it to the impacts downstream that it is creating on water systems and the oceans. We hope that students, through the lens of their cameras, will be made aware of how human activities, and especially the waste we generate, impact water systems and our oceans. Furthermore, we encourage them to explore, discover, and critically think about the alternate measures that can be implemented to reduce and to better manage our waste.