Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Tonga

Share that ends up in the ocean, low estimate* Share that ends up in the ocean, high estimate* * in millions of metric tons per year

0.07 0.19

Turkey

0.97

0.39

0.79

0.15

Where Does the Plastic Waste Come from? The Top 20 Countries with the Worst Plastic Waste Management 0.30

0.28

0.05 0.12

0.04 0.11

1.88

Egypt

0.12 0.31

North Korea

USA

Bangladesh

0.52

Plastic waste with poor waste management* Share that ends up in the ocean, low estimate* Share that ends up in the ocean, high estimate* * in millions of metric tons per year 1.88 0.75 0.05 0.12 Plastic waste with poor waste management* Share that ends up in the ocean, low estimate* Share that ends up in the ocean, high estimate* * in millions of metric tons per year Philippines 0.28 0.75 0.28 0.73 3.22 1.29

0.08 0.21

0.49

Algeria

0.07 0.19

1.83

Where Does the Plastic Waste Come from? The Top 20 Countries with the Worst Plastic Waste Management 0.60 Where Does the Plastic Waste Come from? The Top 20 Countries with the Worst Plastic Waste Management Turkey 0.97 0.31 8.82 1.32 3.53

0.05 0.12

0.09 0.24

0.39

Morocco

0.79

India

0.15

1,800

China

0.30

0.28

0.49

0.04 0.11

Egypt

0.12 0.31

0.47

North Korea Vietnam

0.07 0.19

1,500

USA

Bangladesh

0.52 0.07 0.19

Turkey

0.48

Brazil

0.94

0.97 0.08 0.21

0.07 0.19

C-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: GRIDA /

Algeria

0.28

Pakistan

0.37

0.39

200 400 600 800 1,000 200 400 600 800 1,000 200 400 600 8 0 1,000 2 1,500 1,800 1,500 1,800

0.79

1.83

0.14

0.15

0.48

0.30

0.28

0.52

0.60

1.88 Philippines Indonesia 3.22

0.31

Malaysia

8.82 1.32 3.53

0.05 0.12

0.04 0.11

1.59

Egypt

Bangladesh 0.09 0.24 0.12 0.31

1.03

0.05 0.12

0.21

North Korea

USA

0.08

0.73

Morocco

0.52

0.41

India

China

0.28

Nigeria

0.15

0.75

0.08 0.21

0.64

0.24

0.47

Thailand

Algeria

0.28

Vietnam

1.83

0.07 0.19

0.63

Sri Lanka

0.48

0.46

0.60

Philippines 1950 Global plastic production in millions of tons, 2013 3.22 1.29

1970 1990 2010 2030 2050

0.31

Brazil

8.82 1.32 3.53

0.94

0.07 0.19

South Africa 0.09 0.25

0.07 0.18

0.05 0.12

0.09 0.24

CC-BY-SA PETR BOECKMANN.DE / OC AN ATL S 2017 | SOURCE: GRIDA / JAMBECK

Pakistan

Myanmar

0.73 .37

Morocco

0.28 0.14

India

China

0.48

0.52

Vietnam Malaysia

1.59

1.03

0.47

0.21

1950 Global plastic production in millions of tons, 2013 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste are improperly disposed of globally; 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of it ends up in the ocean. The top 20 countries shown above are responsible for 83 percent of global plastic waste mismanagement. Taken together, the 23 coastal EU countries would rank 18th on this list. North America, China, and Europe produ e around two-thirds of the world’s plastic. manner. Political engagement is a powerful lever for set- ting the right incentives to change. Developing a circular economy is just a matter of political will. • A poor waste manag ent/recycling syst m (or none at all) is the lea ing cause. Plastic garbage from cities and industrial centers flows directly into rivers and seas with untreated wastewater. Micropl stic used as additives in cosmetic products is not filtered out by water tre tment plants. Fishing nets and lines lost or intentionally abandoned at sea. Lost loads and ship materials. Garbage illegally dumped at sea. Catastrophic waste: wreckage and garbage swept out to sea by hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis. 1 2 4 5 6 3 C-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste are improperly disposed of globally; 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of it ends up in the ocean. The top 20 countries shown above are responsible for 83 percent of global plastic waste mismanagement. Taken together, the 23 coastal EU countries would rank 18th on this list. North America, China, and Europe produce around two-thirds of the world’s plastic. 7 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 Indonesia 1950 Global plastic production in millions of tons, 2013 1.03 0.15 0.41 0.07 0.18 0.94 0.14 0.37 0.48 1.29 Malaysia manner. Political engagement is a powerful lever for set- ting the right incentives to change. Developing a circular economy is just a matter of political will. • manner. Political engagement is a powerful lever for set- ting the right incentives o change. Developing a circular economy is just a matter of polit cal will. • 1 A poor waste management/recycling system (or none at all) is the leading cause. Plastic garbage from cities and industrial centers flows directly into rivers and seas with untreated wastewater. Microplastic used as additives in cosmetic products is not filtered out by water treatment plants. Fishing nets and lines lost or intentionally abandoned at sea. Lost loads and ship materials. Garbage illegally dumped at sea. Catastrophic waste: wreckage and garbage swept out to sea by hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis. A poor waste management/recycling system (or none at all) is the leading cause. Plastic garbage from cities and industrial centers flows directly into rivers and seas with untreated wastewater. Micr plastic used s additives in cosmetic products is not fil er d out by wat r treatment plants. Fishing nets and lines lost or intentional y abandoned at s a. Lost loads and ship materials. Garbage illegally dumped at sea. Catastrophic waste: wreckage and garbage swept out to sea by hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis. lever for setting the right incentives for change, and developing a circular economy is just a matter of political will. As a first step, many Tongans are involved in coastal cleanup activities, helping keep Tonga’s waters from turning into a plastic ocean. 1 3 2 4 5 6 3 6 CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste are improperly disposed of globally; 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of it ends up in the ocean. The top 20 countries shown above are responsible for 83 percent of global plastic waste mismanagement. Taken together, the 23 coastal EU countries would rank 18th on this list. North America, China, and Europe produce around two-thirds of the world’s plastic. 7 19 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 Indonesia 0.15 0.41 0.07 0.18 2 5 CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 19

0.08

0.07 0.19

0.48

0.52 The solution to the problem actually lies on dry land, on coasts and river deltas, at markets and in households. The good news is, it is within our grasp. A significant portion of the plastic waste in the ocean comes from the packaging and products we use—and we can have a di- rect influence by chan ing our consumption. We can also ban the use of microplastics in cosmetics. But the most effective step that we can take is to build up globally functioning recycling economy so that fewer new plastics are created and less are disposed of in an uncontrolled 0.08 0.21 Nigeria Pakistan Sri Lanka South Africa 0.09 0.25 t The solution to the problem actually lies on dry land, on coasts and river deltas, at markets and in households. The good news is, it is within our grasp. A significant portion of the plastic waste in the ocean comes from the packaging and products we use—and we can have a di- rect influence by changing our cons mption. We can lso ban the use of micropl tics in cosmetics. But th mo t eff ctive step that we can ake is to build up a glob lly functioning r cycling economy so that fewer n w plas ics are created and less are disposed of in an uncontrolled How Does All That Plastic Get into the Ocea ? How Does All That Plastic Get Into the Ocean? 0.63 0.07 0.19 1.59 0.24 0.64 Brazil The solution to the problem actually lies on dry land, on coasts and river deltas, at markets and in households. The good news is, it is within our grasp. A significant portion of the plastic waste in the ocean comes from the packaging and products we use—and we can have a di- rect influence by changing our consumption. We can also ban the use of microplastics in cosmetics. But the most effective step that we can take is to build up a globally functioning recycling economy so that fewer new plastics are created and less are disposed of in an uncontrolled How Does All That Plastic Get into the Ocean? 1 3 Nigeria Sri Lanka South Africa 0.09 0.25 0.63 0.24 0.64

Thailand

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: GRIDA / JAMBECK

0.46

Myanmar

Thailand

0.46

Myanmar

2

5

How Does All That Plastic Get into the Ocean?

7

4

6

1

3

2

Once plastic gets into the ocean, there is currently no way to retrieve it. Most becomes microplastic, which is so small that filtering it out of the water would filter out the aquatic life as well and would still leave larger pieces of plastic that are danger- ous to larger animals. Many technical solutions aimed at ocean cleanup are under development and must consider the ecological consequenc- es as well as the benefits. For instance, plans to scoop rubbish out of large areas of the sea could unintentionally catch fish and other organisms. The benefits must therefore be compared with the resulting damages. 1 5 7 3 4 OCEAN ATL AS 2017 7 4 OCEAN ATL AS 2017 5

4 7 The solution to the problem actually lie on dry land: on coasts and river deltas, at markets and in households. The good news is, it is within our grasp. As a significant portion of t e plastic w ste in the ocean comes from the packaging and prod- ucts we use, we can have a direct influence by changing our consumption patterns. Governments can also ban the use of microplastics in cosmet- ics. But the most effective step that we can take i to build a globally functioning recycling economy, or circular economy, so that fewer new plastics are created and fewer are disposed of in an uncon- trolled manner. Political engagement is a powerful 2

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THREATS 19

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR TONGA

55

OCEAN ATL AS 2017