How To Investigate Plastic in the Ocean

The Pulitzer Center and GRID-Arendal, a nonprofit environmental communications center based in Norway, are hosting an interactive webinar on September 26, 2024, that will feature experts who will provide journalists with insights into why plastic is a problem and why the world needs a strong treaty aimed at a solution.

Key issues under discussion will include the life cycle of plastic, plastic pollution, how these issues are interlinked with the triple planetary crisis, and an overview of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution process. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the experts, gaining tips for effective reporting on problems related to plastic.

The fifth session of INC is a pivotal international meeting aimed at developing a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. This session will focus on discussions, negotiations, and strategies related to global commitments to address the full life cycle of plastics, from production and design, to recycling and disposal.
 

Key Areas of Focus at INC 5:

1. Global Policies and Commitments: Exploring efforts to reduce plastic pollution, including production limits, waste management, and recycling systems
2. Plastic Life Cycle: Covering the entire journey of plastics, from creation to disposal, focusing on environmental and health impacts
3. Fair Solutions: Looking at how plastic pollution affects developing countries, vulnerable communities, and ecosystems
4. Role of Businesses: Understanding how companies contribute to and can help solve plastic pollution issues
5. Sustainable Options: Discussing alternatives to single-use plastics and new, innovative solutions

Speakers:

• Yogi Tujuliarto, news correspondent for CNN Indonesia
• Lars Stordal, senior expert in GRID-Arendal’s Waste and Marine Litter program
• Aryn Baker, environment correspondent at TIME and a former Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network Fellow