The plastic pollution challenge: a global social-ecological perspective

This agenda-setting transdisciplinary project will assess knowledge-action systems that deal with the global ‘plastic pollution challenge’.

The project will: examine the scope of plastic-related science-policy-society interfaces from an Earth system perspective;trace out the gender and equity dimensions of social drivers and impacts of plastic pollution;explore how making gender and equity dimensions more visible can improve large-scale collective action on plastic; andsupport more inclusive and effective governance of global systemic risks by targeting a wider range of society’s actors.

We will assess and inform cross-scale collective action on plastic pollution, combining a social-ecological systems approach, Earth system governance concepts and participatory methods within a reflexive and feminist ethos. The collaborating scientists link global change, ecotoxicology and education/activism.

We view plastic pollution as a planetary challenge in which environmental harms and risks have social and economic roots in everyday consumption, production and waste management - issues directly relevant to the 2030 Agenda’s SDGs 5, 12, 14 and 15.

We will co-supervise a PhD student, compile evidence from impacts studies, identify gaps in issue definition, monitoring and policy, and engage with the public sector, industry, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and citizen networks, channelling insights through the partners’ well-tested outreach and communications channels.