Close to 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, and with the energy-intensive processes required to extract and distil oil, the production of plastic generates enormous amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, exacerbating the global climate crisis
The goal of this report is to inspire action that will reduce, and possibly eliminate, plastic pollution. There are four objectives: draw conclusions from the results of eight plastic pollution hot-spotting assessments; recommend actions, instruments and interventions; discuss the findings and recommendations of policy and economic research; and share the methodologies, with the aim that others can replicate the model.
Knowledge gathered over the past four years in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Close the Plastic Tap programme is the basis of this publication. It presents a summary of methodologies, results and key lessons learned from the use of the UNEP/IUCN National Guidance for Plastic Pollution Hotspotting and Shaping Action in Kenya, Menorca (Spain), Mozambique, Republic of Cyprus, South Africa, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam.