By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Projections show that by 2050 the oceans may have more plastic than fish.
“Plastic pollution threatens sustainable development and our own well-being. We must work together to address it using science to inform smart policies,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told attendees.
“The application of nuclear science and technologies for the monitoring of plastics in the marine environment and for recycling and creation of biodegradable plastics gives it an indispensable role in meeting our environment challenges.”
Mr Grossi launched NUTEC Plastics in 2020 to enhance global understanding of the abundance and impact of marine plastic pollution and to broaden the application of nuclear technologies in dealing with plastic waste, there by assisting countries in moving towards a circular plastic economy.
The IAEA has developed strategic, four-staged approaches for nuclear solutions to plastic pollution within NUTEC Plastics, in what is referred to as upstream and downstream target areas. Event participants heard that in its upstream strategic approach, nuclear technologies, specifically radiation technologies, are used to innovate plastic waste recycling and support development of biodegradable, green alternatives to single use petroleum-based plastic products – an approach aimed at reducing the volume of plastic waste world-wide and prevent the plastics from reaching earth’s marine environments.
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The challenges in our ocean are addressed in NUTEC Plastic’s downstream activities, participants were told, where nuclear techniques are used to quantify and characterise marine microplastic pollution and to assess their impact on coastal and marine ecosystems.
A further downstream activity is the development of a global plastics monitoring network of marine laboratories, through capacity building.
During the side event, attendees learned about the substantial progress NUTEC plastics has made since its launch. Thanks to pledges reaching almost Є4.5 million from IAEA Member States, NUTEC Plastics is being mobilized to support the 78 countries requesting IAEA support in solving their plastic pollution problems.
“NUTEC Plastics aims to consolidate and build on IAEA’s assistance to its Member States in finding nuclear solutions to plastic pollution,” Mr Grossi told event participants. “When confronted with issues of a global nature, we must try new approaches. NUTEC is the call to make the best use of nuclear.”
Participants learned about the establishment of a global NUTEC Monitoring Network of laboratories, as a vital consolidation activity in downstream NUTEC Plastics, to exchange data, knowledge and best practices. Presently, there are 55 laboratories in the global NUTEC Plastics Monitoring Network.
Corey Hinderstein, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation in the United States National Nuclear Security Administration, said one of their core goals is to enhance nuclear security while ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear. She announced today that the United States would be donating a further USD 1 million to the NUTEC Plastics programme.
