waterlog

Great to learn of the way Fiji Fisheries Minister Sami Koroelevesau (R) is building the capacity of local communities to earn from the sea and act as its guardians. R-L also UK High Cmsnr to Suva Melanie Thompson; me; members of WRAP UK on scoping visit to Suva.

Fog has closed Wellington Airport (background, obscured) three days running - and this in ‘high summer’. As it’s the coldest summer in Wellington I can recall I think we’re experiencing global warping, not warming.

BBC News - Air New Zealand trials edible coffee cups to combat waste bbc.com/news/world-asia-5067…

NZ is to phase out polystyrene foam and PVC packaging as part of its response to a major report on plastics use, harm and solutions. PM Ardern named this a “personal priority.” #rethinkplastics @ChiefSciAdvisor

At Our Ocean in Oslo, Norway, former Secretary of State John Kerry issued a blunt message: we are fighting ‘World War Zero’ against environmental threats to the planet - and we’re losing. But we hold the power to change away from the “politics of impunity” and to act. #OurOcean

At the annual Our Ocean conference, this year in Oslo, the many stark reminders to act urgently included this on plastic. We can’t afford to do nothing.

Plastics will rival climate change as a threat to the Pacific, Director-General of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Kosi Latu, has told a NZ Ocean Forum. Moananui: Te Paepae Tangaroa coincides with Tuia Encounters 250 in Gisborne.#moananui

This Encounters 250 in Gisborne commemorates the first landfall, on 9 October 1769, in New Zealand by Capt James Cook and Endeavour, after sighting Young Nick’s Head ( on horizon.)

Excellent meeting in Auckland with visiting Barbados Minister for Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey (seated centre) and Permanent Secretary(r) on its aims to lead Caribbean efforts to tackle plastics pollution. Staff of Novotel Airport help mark Humphrey’s birthday

Retrieved some plastic bottles and some clear plastic bags from the otherwise pristine reef at Fagaloa Bay, Samoa. Turtles abound here and the plastic bags can suffocate or choke the turtles.

Pacific Environment Forum kicks off in Apia, Samoa, with focus on plastics pollution. My impromptu ‘field survey‘ gathered 30 pieces on a 30-metre stretch of beach in remote Fagalea Bay.

Arrivals in Apia, Samoa get the message of the Pacific Environment Forum on 2 September.

NZ Sustainable Business Network’s conference aims for ‘the End of Plastic as we Know It’. One insight: don’t talk waste streams; talk side streams.’ This would help us mine the value in used plastics. Speaker is PM’s Chief Science Adviser, Juliet Gerrard.

Addressed the NZ Inst of Internatl Affairs 5 Aug on ‘Plastics Diplomacy’ - in sum: this global challenge needs global solutions; these demand agility and new thinking from diverse actors, not just diplomats; & key is fixing a broken economic model that harms environment.

Very fruitful discussion in Barbados on plastics pollution and other marine challenges with Maritime Affairs Minister Kirk Humphrey (L) and Environment and National Beautification Minister Trevor Prescod (2nd from R). UK High Commissioner Janet Douglas is at centre.

Belize is hosting the first Commonwealth Litter Programme workshop to combat marine plastics pollution 11-12 July - part of the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance effort to build effective collaboration across its 53 members. A regional conference in September. #UKinBelize

9 action groups of the #Commonwealth#BlueCharter explorrd pathways towards a healthier ocean during 4 days of discussion in London 18-21 June. Encouraging to see how Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance focus on plastic waste can build on other work to mitigate maritime pressures.

#Commonwealth#bluecharter workshop with non-government partners in London hears that one way to attract ‘blue’ investment to support sustainable ocean activities would be to offer adaptation credits as well as mitigation (eg carbon) credits.

Lambeth Palace London, HQ of the Archbishop of Canterbury, hosted the first ‘Against the Plastic Tide’ workshop on 14 June. A cross-section of church leaders, environmentalists, scientists, diplomats and policy experts from 20 nations explored how to combine to turn the tide.

London plays host on 13 June to Ellen MacArthur Foundation global @circulareconomy summit and on 14 June Lambeth Palace, supported by Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, to a seminar and workshop on Turning the Tide on Plastic. Pic of balloons over Vauxhall 9/6/19