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Conservationists welcome Australian Government’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution

Conservationists welcome Australian Government’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution
July 1, 2022

Federal Environment Minister,Tanya Plibersek has made a strong and clear commitment at the UN Oceans Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, to provide leadership on the protection and conservation of global oceans.

Minister Plibersek used the opportunity to signal the new government’s intentions to address plastic pollution, protect and restore critical coastal ecosystems and provide international leadership on ocean conservation.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society has welcomed the commitment with Darren Kindleysides, Chief Executive of AMCS noting “Australia’s oceans are among the most internationally important, and we are custodians of some of the most loved and significant marine ecosystems on the planet, including the Great Barrier and Ningaloo Reefs. We are also home to an incredible diversity of marine wildlife, much of which is found nowhere else on Earth.

“But Australia’s oceans are under more threat than ever before from the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises.”

“Minister Plibersek’s clear acknowledgement at the conference on the scale of the threats and the need for government leadership is warmly welcomed.

“Marine heatwaves as a result of global warming are cooking our oceans around the country. The coral reef bleaching events that happened earlier this year in the Great Barrier Reef and on reefs off Western Australia, will be more frequent and more intense as a result of ocean heating. If we are to protect our coastline and seas, we need a rapid pivot from fossil fuels to renewables.

“Minister Plibersek’s commitment to join the new plastics economy global commitment by the end of the year is a welcome sign of progress. However, this commitment must come with concrete action to address Australia’s failure to meet its own plastic reduction targets.

“It’s time to transition away from voluntary frameworks and set mandatory reduction targets, with increased infrastructure investment to ensure all plastic is reused, recycled or composted. Businesses, investors and the community need certainty as we transition to a circular economy.”

The Minister has also announced five new blue carbon projects to protect and restore mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

“Protecting and restoring coastal habitats is vital to safeguarding biodiversity, helping address global warming and helping reduce land pollution hitting the oceans. Investment is vital, as is ensuring these ecosystems are not destroyed in the first place.”

Kindleysides advised that the AMCS looked forward to working with the Minister and the Federal Government on driving improvements to the state of Australia’s oceans and the protection of critical ecosystems and wildlife.

Related Articles

1st June 2022 - Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes new Federal Government appointments

11th November 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society slams Federal Government’s proposed environmental policies

31st August 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes Queensland’s ban on single-use plastic

19th May 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society claims Hunter Valley gas development to be a disaster for the Reef

16th April 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society calls on politicians to stop ignoring climate change

27th February 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society decries Queensland government’s decision to move forward with Palmer mine proposal

9th December 2020 - Australian Marine Conservation Society highlights new Federal laws banning plastic waste won’t save wildlife

9th October 2020 - Australian Marine Conservation Society claims Reef Inquiry confirms what was already known

22nd May 2022 - AMCS considers Australian Election result as opportunity to reset climate change agenda

3rd March 2022 - AMCS considers UN agreement as vital for tackling plastic pollution in Australia’s wildest places

4th February 2022 - AMCS criticises State of Conservation report for its high level of spin and low level of action

15th November 2021 - AMCS and Climate Council respond to Australia’s contribution at COP26

4th July 2021 - AMCS suggests report on climate action should be a reality check for Australian Government


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