Transcript
SEFANAIA NAWADRA: Oceans is one of the priority issues for Pacific countries at the Assembly. It's something that we have continued to try and raise not only at this meeting but other meetings, including the recent Oceans Conference. A lot of the outcomes from the Oceans Conference in July we are supporting through papers and resolutions like the one put forward by Norway at this conference.
JENNY MEYER: Norway's idea is like a zero tolerance for plastic pollution, what are your thoughts and responses to that?
SN: It's something that's already being addressed by actions in Pacific Island countries. Many have banned plastic bags or single use plastic. In a lot of ways Pacific Island countries have voted with their feet and started doing it even before the resolution has been put forward.
JM: And what about this idea of a law to enforce that kind of thing, how do you think that could work internationally and in the Pacific as well as the rest of the world?
SN: Many Pacific Island coutries have in fact inacted laws already, national laws. I think what they're talking about here is more of a convention at the international level and it's something that will certainly be supported by Pacific Island countries.
JM: What is the response to what the Pacific has been doing to address these issues, because I guess, you know, per population you probably have more beaches and more reliance on the sea so this kind of ocean pollution is really an every day issue isn't it?
SN: I think there's been overwhelming support for some sort of action on plastics. The devil is in the detail and I think that's basically what the countries are going through at the moment making sure they are comfortable with the language in the resolution.
JM: Can you tell me what the primary focus is there that you've been particularly impressed by?
SN: Just the theme of pollution is something that Pacific countries have supported. We feel that this issue has not had the profile that it should. Pacific Islands are often portrayed as pristine tourism destinations but at the same time that brings its own challenges in terms of waste management. So raising the profile of working towards a pollution free planet really follows on to the Blue Pacific idea and initiative that was put forward at the Pacific leaders meeting in September where everyone needs to take stewardship over the ocean including polluting the ocean.
JM: I've heard a figure in the news over the last few weeks, you know that there are projections of more plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050, have you picked up any new ideas at this conference about how you can help to turn things around in the region when it comes to what is a really important food source in fish?
SN: Basically it comes down to improving waste management on land. That's basically where most of the plastic's from. You can't really de-couple the impacts on the water and the need for good management on land. People know what they need to do, they need to improve waste management.
