Report on the stocktake of existing activities and action towards the long-term elimination of discharges into the oceans to reduce marine plastic litter and microplastics

Note by the Secretariat
1. The ad hoc open-ended expert group on marine litter and microplastics (AHEG) was
established through United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 3/7 paragraph 10. Its mandate
was extended through UNEA resolution 4/6 paragraph 7, which also requested the group to,
amongst other things, through subparagraph 7(a):
“Take stock of existing activities and action by governments, regional and global
instruments, international organizations, the private sector, non-governmental
organizations and other relevant contributors to reduce marine plastic litter and
microplastics with the aim of the long-term elimination of discharge into the oceans”.
2. The third meeting of the ad hoc open-ended expert group on marine litter and microplastics
further requested the Secretariat2 to: Consider relevant work undertaken by UNEP, as well as other
relevant existing bodies of work, such as information submitted as part of studies undertaken by, for
example, the Group of 20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the
Regional Seas Programmes and the Basel Convention; invite voluntary contributions to the
stocktaking exercise through the survey tool or through other submissions - such contributions need
not be exhaustive and may address any activity considered relevant by respondents; capture a wide
1 UNEP/AHEG/4/1
2 Outcome document from the third ad hoc open-ended expert group on marine litter and microplastics.
Final version, 22 November 2019, Bangkok, Thailand.
https://papersmart.unon.org/resolution/uploads/aheg_3_outcome_document_0.pdf
UNEP/AHEG/4/INF/6
2
range of activities while bearing in mind that the exercise would not be exhaustive; and provide
guidance for the submission process and provide support as needed.
3. This information document complements the working document UNEP/AHEG/4/2 and
provides a greater level of detail on the results of the stock-taking exercise. The stock-taking
exercise was carried out in order to gather information about ongoing and planned activities by
stakeholder groups that address marine plastic litter and microplastics directly and indirectly. The
stock-taking exercise feeds into e.g. the analysis of the effectiveness of existing and potential
response options and activities contributing towards the long-term elimination of discharge of
marine plastic litter and microplastics into the oceans