Fiji could benefit from global support to clean its waterways and beaches as international non-profit The Ocean Cleanup looks to build partnerships in the Pacific to tackle plastic pollution.
Director of Development APAC for The Ocean Cleanup, Charlotte De Jong, says Fiji, like many Pacific Island countries, is being disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing very little to the global problem.
De Jong says it is important for organisations like The Ocean Cleanup to work closely with people in Fiji to better understand the challenges communities face, so those realities are reflected in global conversations on environmental action.
She says the organisation hopes to support local efforts to clean waterways, keep beaches clean and build partnerships that create long-term benefits for communities and the environment.
De Jong stresses that ocean pollution is not a simple issue, saying it is linked not only to environmental damage but also to waste management challenges on land and human behaviour.
She says in some cases, waste systems are struggling to cope with the amount of rubbish being produced.
Insert: De Jong on partnership 27th April 26
De Jong says there is no single solution to fix the problem, and meaningful progress will require governments, communities and organisations to work together, with each taking responsibility for part of the solution.
While The Ocean Cleanup does not currently have an active deployment in Fiji, De Jong says she hopes there will be an opportunity to work with the Fijian government in future, as the organisation continues to expand its partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region.
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