A total of €4 billion will be allocated to combat plastic pollution, according to the so-called “Brest Commitments” adopted at the end of the One Ocean Summit Friday (11 February), where they also agreed to create a global coalition preserve high seas biodiversity. EURACTIV France reports.
For three days, from 9-11 February in the city of Brest, experts, activists and politicians from 42 countries – including 20 heads of state, including non-European ones – joined forums and workshops to discuss a range of issues that impact ocean life.
Fighting plastic waste at sea received the most significant financial commitment of €4 billion by 2025 from the French, German and Spanish national banks, together with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to develop the “Clean Oceans Initiative”.
Preserving the high seas, beyond 200 nautical miles from national coasts and thus not under any state jurisdiction, is one of today’s most significant challenges participants acknowledged.
In this regard, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a “global coalition” – which includes 27 EU countries and 16 non-EU countries – to conclude the treaty on the sustainable use of the high seas and the protection of its biodiversity.
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One Ocean Summit: States pledge €4 billion to fight plastic pollution at sea