A One Health Approach to Regulating Ocean Microplastics: Translating Advocacy into Action

The COVID-19 crisis has focused a growing amount of attention on the close interrelationship between human, animal and environmental health. Efforts to capture this interrelationship in policy and practice are often summarised under the heading of “one health.” An area where this one health approach could be particularly useful is strengthening regulations to deal with microplastics in the world’s oceans. Aside from being an emerging pollutant in the marine environment, microplastics can have severe health impacts on humans, animals and the natural environment, which are all interrelated. 

Whilst more evidence is certainly needed, we are currently faced with the pressing issue of how microplastic pollution is assessed, managed, and monitored. In short, how can policymakers use the one health approach to move from growing advocacy for regulating ocean microplastics to taking tangible actions that merit careful consideration?

This side event, jointly organised by Japan and France, featured a multidisciplinary panel discussion to bridge the gap between advocacy and action. In particular, experts from academia, business, and international organisations discussed the current challenges, including the impacts of microplastics on marine ecosystems and humans, as well as measures to overcome them.