The main target of this second version was to advertise nationwide and worldwide greatest practices and construct alliances by disruptive, interactive, and collaborative actions, fostering studying and reflection for the greater than 200 attendees, representing civil society, academia, non-public corporations, authorities, multilateral organizations, and college students who participated within the completely different codecs supplied by the occasion.
To lift consciousness of this dramatic actuality, throughout the framework of the Blue Pure Heritage (BNH) Venture, Audubon Americas held the second Nationwide Plastic Symposium in Panama on March eleventh and twelfth. This modern occasion sought to establish efficient options for the safety of marine coastal biodiversity.
Two disruptive days to boost consciousness
The primary day consisted of three segments, separated by unconventional actions to stimulate attendees’ reflection.
Within the morning, a sequence of 15 TED Talks and PechaKucha displays supplied a platform for specialists to share key details about the affect of plastic throughout completely different sectors. Among the many noteworthy audio system was Marisol Landau, a recycling pioneer in Panama, who defined the analysis of plastic’s position within the environmental disaster, emphasizing the dilemma between comfort and consciousness, concluding that “recycling will not be the answer.” Moreover, Dr. Nicolás Olea, a distinguished professor on the College of Granada, delivered an eye-opening presentation on the human well being impacts of plastic publicity. He elucidated the hazards we face attributable to what he calls “the plastic orgy,” referring to unconscious and acutely aware misuse of plastic, in clothes, artificial grass, private care merchandise, amongst others, in addition to the repercussions of microplastic presence in very important bodily techniques, together with the guts, bloodstream, placenta, and even breast milk.
Throughout lunch, individuals had been stunned by actual “ghost nets” (these which were deserted, misplaced or discarded in rivers, lakes, and oceans) that obstructed their path and impeded entry to meals, mirroring the plight of numerous birds and fish impacted by the negligent disposal and abandonment of those traps in our oceans.
Within the afternoon, 4 panels of specialists shared their experiences on greatest practices in communication methods, teaching programs, and success tales worldwide for accountable plastic administration, in addition to the challenges and alternatives in organizations selling prolonged producers’ duty.
All through the day, 12 Panamanian initiatives providing sustainable options to the market had the chance to showcase and provide their services and products by the so-called “Round Market.” Examples embrace preloved vogue; plastic-free kids’s and female hygiene merchandise; sustainable packaging and wrapping; “upcycled” hospitality business objects; composting companies, and laptop repairs; amongst others.
To wrap up the primary day, a purpose-driven networking night, referred to as #HablemosSinFiltro (Let’s Discuss With out Filter), was organized. Six organizations, in collaboration with the United Nations Growth Program’s Answer Laboratory (UNDP), shared invaluable insights from their previous errors, which grew to become Quantity 2 of the Plastic Circle. This UNDP initiative seeks to attach and combine various visions and Panama’s plastics circularity ecosystem stakeholders, facilitating discovery, collaboration, and collective motion to speed up the adjustments wanted to create a world freed from plastic air pollution.
Among the many accomplishments of this second symposium is the dedication to sustainability, exemplified by its dedication to attaining zero waste to landfill, due to strategic partnerships cast throughout the occasion framework. This initiative was materialized utilizing reusable and recycled supplies in execution, ornament, and disruptive actions, in addition to composting, co-processing, and recycling of generated waste, together with that of suppliers, to reduce environmental affect all through the chain.
Moreover, the symposium offered a great house for reflection and studying by playful actions designed to actively interact individuals, on which they needed to handle their waste, carry it throughout a rally, and reply uncomfortable questions. Probably the most impactful actions requested individuals to eat plastic, difficult them to eat a sweet with wrapping on it. The aim was to disclose that after we are acutely aware, we refuse to eat it, although we devour about 5g of plastics per week. (The wrapping is Agar-Agar, a neutral-tasting seaweed-based vegetable gelatin).
The second day was devoted solely to offering coaching and supporting the event and/or continuation of over 30 initiatives, analysis proposals, and theses associated to modern plastic options. A complete of 54 individuals had been accompanied by specialists who labored to offer suggestions and enhance particular undertaking proposals. These classes offered a possibility for candidates to compete for as much as $10,000 US in seed capital and mentoring to hold out their initiatives successfully and sustainably.
Developments and new objectives
In its first version in 2022, the Nationwide Plastic Symposium targeted on rethinking plastic and shifting in the direction of complete administration to scale back the air pollution it generates. This second version targeted on increasing the outcomes of the primary assembly and mapping ongoing nationwide and worldwide options, having fostered alliances amongst completely different actors. Moreover, the symposium actively showcased and sought endorsement for the BNH undertaking’s efforts geared toward bolstering Panama’s stance throughout the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Air pollution (INC). Moreover, emphasis was positioned on the formulation of methods for the Nationwide Marine Waste Motion Plan 2022-2027 (Panama).
It’s price noting that these actions and occasions purpose to raise the significance of Panama’s coastal pure capital, for which since 2021, the Nationwide Audubon Society crew, in collaboration with its native companion, Sociedad Audubon de Panamá, has been producing strong scientific analysis to assist the evaluation, safety, and enchancment of marine-coastal ecosystems. This significant work has been made potential by the backing of the UK’s Blue Carbon Fund, administered by the Inter-American Growth Financial institution (IDB).
To see the displays and panels of this second model of the Nationwide Plastic Symposium in Spanish, observe this link.