The UN has called marine plastic pollution “a slow-motion catastrophe”, and a recent study found Indonesia to be the second largest contributor to it after China. The coasts of Indonesia are home to many densely populated communities. Plastic waste is ubiquitous and transboundary, with ocean currents transporting it in multiple directions including to uninhabited islands. It should be emphasized that a healthy ocean is the key to a sustainable ocean economy. Indonesia ranks 137 out of 221 countries in the Ocean Health Index (2021) with a score of 65, which is still below the global average.

Research shows the oceans are being fouled by a complex stew of toxins including mercury, pesticides, industrial chemicals, petroleum wastes, agricultural runoff, and manufactured chemicals embedded in plastic. These toxic materials in the ocean get into people, mainly by eating contaminated seafood. Plastic waste – entering the oceans at a rate of more than 10 million tons each year – kills seabirds and fish and is consumed by humans in the form of toxic microscopic particles, now found in all humans.

Therefore, in this 2022 Social Event, We will be focusing on preventing more marine pollution by encouraging people to reduce the habit of littering. This event will be focusing on giving awareness of the urgency of preventing marine pollution by explaining all the impacts and raising the awareness of Indonesia’ Youths. This will also encourage teenangers to contribute more to their environment by reducing the habit of littering. Indonesia’s performance in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) is in the orange category, meaning that Indonesia is still facing some significant challenges to meet the goal.