News 20 June 2022

New report: Socio-economic analysis of the cost of inaction of plastic debris

Case study from uMngeni River in South Africa.

The environmental, economic and social impacts of plastic pollution in fresh and marine waters are a matter of growing concern.

This report builds on a costs-of-inaction-study, assessing social and economic costs of not dealing with plastic pollution in rivers and oceans.

It is a result of Swedish and South African cooperation on environment and climate change, funded by the Swedish government and implemented by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM).

Our findings provide a strong incentive for action, in line with the ambition of the recently endorsed UN-resolution to end plastic pollution. We argue that a holistic water management from source to sea is key to address pollution in fresh and marine waters.

Published: 2022-06-20