Editor's Note: The press call is only for members of the media. Non-media please join a webinar on May 27, Plastic as a Key to Addressing Ocean Pollution

WASHINGTON–The equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic pours into the ocean every minute. But what we see is just the tip of the iceberg: only 3% of all plastic in the ocean is visible on the surface, and there are a multitude of other pollutants like oil, antibiotics, heavy metals, industrial chemicals and pesticides harming ecosystems and marine life, undermining human health, and costing the economy more than $13 billion per year.

What if we could capitalize on the attention being paid to plastics in the ocean and stop all pollutants from ending up there? New research commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (embargoed for May 27) suggests this is possible if we tackle the common root causes of pollution entering the ocean and “turn off the tap.”

Join a press call hosted by WRI with lead authors Jenna Jambeck, Brajesh Dubey and Ellie Moss on Friday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. EDT/15:00 BST/16:00 CEST to preview the findings and hear about bold new integrated solutions to address the flow of all types of pollution into the ocean.

All information presented on the press call is strictly embargoed for Wednesday, May 27, when the paper will be published on the Ocean Panel website.

WHAT
Embargoed press call on tackling plastic and pollution in the ocean to preview a new blue paper commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

WHO

  • Jenna Jambeck, Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Georgia; National Geographic Fellow; Principle Investigator/Developer, Marine Debris Tracker
  • Brajesh Dubey, Professor of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
  • Ellie Moss, independent consultant and researcher
  • Moderator, Lauren Zelin, Director of Media and Strategy, WRI

WHEN
Friday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. EDT/15:00 BST/16:00 CEST

Register Here or e-mail Lauren Zelin, lzelin@wri.org or Kylee Barton, kylee.barton@wri.org to receive dial-in information.

Note: Embargoed materials available upon request.