Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has joined Sir David Attenborough CBE and International Development Secretary Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP in parliament to speak out on tackling plastic pollution across the globe.
The event on 11th March, which was co-hosted by the Coalition for Global Prosperity, Plastic Oceans UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Prevention of Plastic Waste, brought together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum and senior stakeholders for a discussion on British leadership combatting plastic waste on the international stage, as well as domestically.
At the event, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt doubled UK aid support for plastic recycling in developing countries and called for solutions to clearing plastic waste from the world’s oceans and rivers.
The issue of plastic pollution is escalating and unavoidable; far from remaining beyond our shores, it is washing up there daily. From microplastics disrupting our fishing industry and sparking concerns about public health, to beautiful stretches of British coastline being ruined, it is essential that this issue is confronted with coordinated efforts around the world.
This event put a spotlight on the UK’s commitment to reducing plastic waste across the world, and the opportunity for Britain to be at the forefront of these global conservation efforts.
Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP said: “Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to our oceans. The UN estimates that there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, unless we act to reduce our use and improve how waste is managed, particularly in poorer countries.
That’s why I am doubling UK aid’s support to projects in developing countries to increase plastic recycling. This will create jobs and reduce the harmful impact of plastic waste in our oceans. Cleaning up our environment is a win for us all.”
Sir David Attenborough CBE said: “Now the world globally is producing every year 400 million tonnes of plastic and 10 million tonnes of that goes into the oceans…The consequences of this both to humanity and life in the seas upon which we depend is hideous.”
Anne Main MP, chair of the APPG on the Prevention of Plastic Waste said: 'It is important now more than ever to focus on tackling plastic waste. This is why I chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Prevention of Plastic Waste. The UK must lead in reducing plastic pollution not only at home but also abroad, in order to protect and conserve our planet for future generations.’
Jo Ruxton, co-founder of Plastic Oceans UK, said: “We must change the way we use plastic. It is a remarkable product that has saved nature many times over, its use has revolutionised the way we live and its contribution to the medical practice has saved millions of lives. But our addiction to unnecessary, single-use items and ridiculous over-packaging must stop. We need to re-educate ourselves and ensure that our children grow up knowing that plastic was never designed to be ‘disposable’. It was designed to be indestructible so what were we thinking?”
Giles said: “Having litter picked around our lovely Walton Backwaters and been shocked at the sheer volume of discard plastics along the littoral, I am keen to push the plastic pollution agenda forward. It was good to meet Sir David and hear what more can and must be done.”