India's Ocean Plastic Pollution: A Growing Concern

India is responsible for 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean each year, according to a 2015 study. This makes it the 12th biggest contributor to plastic ocean waste, with China ranked first with 8.82 million tonnes per year. In 2017, India was one of 194 nations to sign a resolution to reduce marine plastic waste.

India pumps 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean annually

The study, published in the journal *Science* in February 2015, was the first to quantify the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from land. It found that most of the plastic waste that enters the ocean is due to plastic litter and mismanaged plastic waste systems in several countries.

In 2010, an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean, nearly the amount of plastic generated globally in 1961. The cumulative amount of plastic debris that would enter the ocean in the next decade is predicted to be more than double the 2010 figure in the absence of any improvement to waste management systems in the 192 coastal countries.

At the United Nations Environment Assembly in December 2017, India was one of 194 nations that signed a resolution to reduce marine plastic waste.

India is ranked 12th for plastic waste

In 2010, an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean globally, nearly the amount of plastic generated worldwide in 1961. The vast majority of this plastic waste comes from plastic litter and poorly managed plastic waste systems in several countries.

In 2015, researchers quantified the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from land for the first time. Their study, published in the journal *Science*, found that India was responsible for 0.6 tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean annually. This figure would have been much higher if it had taken into account the contribution from other sources such as fishing activities or at-sea vessels.

At the United Nations Environment Assembly in December 2017, India was one of 194 nations that signed a resolution to reduce marine plastic waste.

India signed a resolution to reduce marine plastic waste in 2017

India pumps 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean annually, according to a 2015 study. This makes it the 12th largest contributor to plastic waste in the ocean, with China ranked first.

In 2017, India was one of 194 nations that signed a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly to reduce marine plastic waste. India made an amendment to the resolution asking member countries to report on the status of marine debris around their country and the amount of plastic recycling and usage. This was followed up in 2022, when member nations adopted a resolution to support international negotiations on a treaty to tackle plastic pollution. India's intervention meant that member countries had to report back on the status and recycling usage of plastic.

India's plastic waste is due to plastic litter and mismanaged plastic waste systems

India pumps 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean annually, according to a 2015 study. This makes India the 12th biggest contributor to ocean plastic waste, with China ranked first. The study also found that the total amount of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean would be much higher if other sources, such as fishing activities or at-sea vessels, were taken into account.

India's plastic waste problem is largely due to plastic litter and mismanaged plastic waste systems. In 2010, an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean globally, nearly the amount of plastic generated worldwide in 1961. This plastic waste comes from a variety of sources, including land-based sources such as littering and improper waste disposal, as well as marine sources such as fishing activities and at-sea vessels.

The impact of plastic waste on the ocean is significant, with plastic debris entering the ocean from a variety of sources, including rivers, coastal areas, and marine activities. India is not alone in contributing to this problem, with 19 other countries accounting for 83% of mismanaged plastic waste that entered the ocean, according to the study.

To address this issue, India, along with 193 other nations, signed a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly in December 2017 to reduce marine plastic waste. This resolution recognises the need for global cooperation and improved waste management systems to tackle the issue of plastic waste in the ocean.

The cumulative amount of plastic debris that would enter the ocean in the next decade is projected to more than double the 2010 figure if no improvements are made to waste management systems in coastal countries. This highlights the urgency of addressing plastic waste and the need for coordinated efforts to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management practices.

India's plastic waste would be higher if other sources like fishing activities were included

India pumps 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean annually, according to a 2015 study. This makes it the 12th largest contributor to plastic ocean waste, with China ranked first with 8.82 million tonnes per year.

The 2015 study did not take into account the contribution from other sources such as fishing activities or at-sea vessels. It is likely that India's plastic waste would be higher if these sources were included. This is because fishing activities can generate significant amounts of plastic waste, such as discarded fishing nets and other equipment. In addition, India has a large fishing industry, with coastal states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu relying heavily on fishing as a source of income. Therefore, it is likely that fishing activities in India contribute to the country's plastic ocean waste.

Furthermore, India's plastic waste management systems are often mismanaged, which leads to plastic litter and other plastic waste ending up in the ocean. This is a significant problem in India, as the country generates a large amount of plastic waste each year. In 2010, India generated an estimated 275 million tonnes of plastic waste, which is nearly the amount of plastic generated globally in 1961. Without improvements to waste management systems, the cumulative amount of plastic debris entering the ocean in the next decade will be more than double the 2010 figure.

In an effort to reduce marine plastic waste, India signed a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly in December 2017, along with 193 other nations. This resolution recognises the importance of reducing plastic waste and taking steps to improve waste management systems.

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