Prince’s plea to save seas from plastic

Albert of Monaco calls on Britain to take lead in action to stop pollution of the world’s oceans

THE WORLD must take urgent action to combat the “devastating effects” of plastic in Earth’s oceans, Prince Albert II of Monaco said last night.

The Prince, who was giving the annual lecture at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, also quoted Winston Churchill, saying: “What is the use of living… if not to make this muddled world a better place.”

Prince Albert, who is often referred to as “the green prince” for his efforts to tackle climate change, ocean acidification and pollution, warned that the problem of plastic was now so bad, it was beginning to end up in “the foods on our plates”.

It is estimated that seafood eaters now ingest 11,000 pieces of plastic each year and, left unchecked, it is forecast that by 2050 the amount of plastic in the world’s oceans will outweigh fish.

“Plastics take centuries or millennia to degrade, and they have devastating effects on the whole of the ecosystem and food chain, right down to the food on our own plates,” the Prince told the audience of scientists and students in central London.

“Urgent action is needed on every level, through tighter regulations, and greater investment in materials.

“We must make the blue economy a priority. Clearly this is an immense task, a long and difficult battle to be fought, but one that we can win.

“It’s time to be concerned with our oceans. More people need to be made to be aware of this. It is time policy leaders devote resources that it deserves.

“I believe the UK, which has been at the forefront of many great battles, will once again inspire us and unite us all.”

In January, Theresa May announced plans to scrap all avoidable plastic waste by 2042, in the Government’s 25-year Environmental Plan, which could also lead to the introduction of a tax on single-use plastic items.

There are thought to be more than five trillion pieces of microplastic in the oceans and the equivalent of one rubbish truck of plastic waste is being added to the sea every minute. By 2050 that will increase to four trucks every minute.

The Prince recently established Monaco Explorations, a three-year circumnavigation of the globe monitoring the oceans.

In 2006 he also founded the Prince Albert II Monaco Foundation, which supports sustainable and ethical projects around the world, particularly focusing on climate change, renewable energy development, combating the loss of biodiversity and water management.

“For too long we have failed to see the importance and fragility of these vast areas on which we are so dependant,” he added.

“We much teach all our human brethren who live by the sea, and who depend on it, to love and respect the oceans.”

A recent study estimated that nine in 10 of the world’s seabirds have pieces of plastic in their guts.