South Asia is the second largest contributor to global plastic waste. It generates 334 million metric tons of solid waste every year. Nearly 70 to 80 % of this waste ends up in the ocean- 12 % is plastic.
Source: World BankSouth Asia’s rivers are highways for plastic pollution, flowing from mountains to the oceans.
Our mission is to support projects and policies across South Asia, to draw advocacy and attention to prevent plastic pollution, as well a shared plan for protecting the regions rivers and seas.
Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project
Funded by the World Bank, and implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), with the support of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the project development objective of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project is to catalyze actions that reduce the flow of plastic pollution into South Asian Seas.
Tangled Seas: A Snapshot of Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in South Asia
Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), colloquially known as ghost gear, contributes significantly to plastic pollution in the ocean. The problem of ALDFG is global, though it varies in nature from location to location and is dependent on various factors. The lack of comprehensive monitoring makes it difficult to determine the extent of plastic pollution from fishing vessels, namely fishing gear.
“Plastic waste is now found in the most remote areas of the planet. It kills marine life and is doing major harm to communities that depend on fishing and tourism.”
- António Guterres, UN Secretary General -
The Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project is funded by the World Bank and is implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme, with support from UNOPS Sri Lanka.