Have you ever wondered where those discarded plastic bottles end up? The answer might shock you: they're invading our oceans, threatening marine life, and potentially returning to our dinner plates. On June 8, United Nations World Oceans Day, with this year's theme "Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean," the World Customs Organization (WCO) joined the global movement, highlighting customs agencies' crucial role in protecting marine health.
Ocean Emergency: Plastic Waste Takes Over
Oceans are Earth's lifeblood, hosting 94% of the planet's biodiversity while providing food, oxygen, and climate regulation. Yet overfishing and pollution—particularly plastic waste—are pushing this blue ecosystem to its limits. Whales suffocate in plastic bags, seabirds starve with stomachs full of plastic particles, and microplastics infiltrate the food chain, ultimately endangering human health. These aren't dystopian predictions but current realities.
Alarming data shows that without intervention, annual plastic waste entering oceans could reach 53 million metric tons by 2030. While governments and organizations have begun implementing bans and policies to curb plastic pollution, global cooperation remains essential to combat what has become our planet's most pervasive environmental threat.
Customs on the Frontlines: Border Guardians Turned Eco-Warriors
Customs agencies have emerged as pivotal defenders of marine environments. As enforcers of multilateral environmental agreements like the Basel Convention, they monitor, manage, and prevent cross-border transportation of hazardous waste. Serving as a nation's first line of defense, customs officers effectively identify and intercept illegal shipments of environmentally sensitive materials.
The WCO has enhanced its trade tools to incorporate environmental impact assessments. The Harmonized System (HS) classification, for instance, helps customs identify goods restricted under environmental agreements. In essence, customs now evaluates not just what crosses borders, but whether it should.
Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, emphasized: "By ensuring sustainable international supply chains and intercepting illegal plastic waste trade, customs contributes to environmental protection. World Oceans Day 2022 highlights collective action's importance, and the WCO remains committed to strengthening coordination among members and stakeholders."
WCO in Action: Asia-Pacific Plastic Waste Project Builds Green Defenses
A cornerstone of WCO's environmental initiatives is the Japan-funded Asia-Pacific Plastic Waste Project , which enhances customs' capacity to distinguish legitimate plastic recycling from illegal dumping. The project developed a self-assessment tool enabling WCO members to evaluate their readiness to implement Basel Convention provisions and combat illegal plastic waste trade.
Additionally, the project established a training framework on the Basel Convention and plastic waste trade, providing customs with systematic methods to improve detection and risk management capabilities. Updated guidelines now include dedicated sections on the Basel Convention and plastic waste, reinforcing coordinated action.
Collective Responsibility: Protecting Blue Ecosystems Starts With Us
While the WCO's World Oceans Day observance underscores customs' vital environmental role, ocean protection requires universal participation. Simple daily actions—reducing plastic use, proper waste sorting, and supporting conservation efforts—can collectively safeguard our blue planet for future generations.