FIRST LEARNINGS FROM RACE FOR WATER ODYSSEE

Race for Water Odyssey Mid-term report

Scientific assessment- 22 beaches sampled on - 7 scientific stopovers- 84% of debris are plastics Plastic pollution was found everywhere- 6 scientific meeting organized (think tank, roundtable,

forums, etc.)- More than 60 members of the scientific community met

R4WO – Scientific results

Preliminary results : environmental aspect Plastic pollution is omnipresentWe found plastic debris at each sampling area. No place is immune.

Indicative Figure : Samples of Collected Microdebris

Samples of microdebris (including a large proportion of plastic)

Volume of substratum (usually sand) considered : 25 dm3, 50 cm wide by 50 cm long by 10 cm depth («quadrant»)

R4WO – Scientific results

Component/Institution

Objective Planning

Microplastics / EPFL

Identify microplastic (MP) quality and typology in order to characterize the material used and the primary function of this plastic.

Final report : April, 2016

Intermediate results will be provided regularly

Micropolluants / HEIA-FR

Qualitative determination of absorbed pollutants on microplastics.

Laboratory analysis will start in march 2016

Final results : March 2017

R4WO – Scientific results

Component/Institution

Objective Planning

Microplastics toxicity / Bordeaux

Assesss the microplastic toxicity on a cell line of fish, and on the development of a fish larvae, the Japanese Medaka, Oryzias latipes.

Cell line starting tests planned : September, 2015.

Preliminary results : End of November 2015.

Macroplastics / Duke

Automated aerial identification of macroplastics washed ashore

Online release three months after data reception.

Plankton/Roscoff and CNRS

1. Improve the knowledge about marine biodiversity by creating a genomic database of plankton,

2. Create a network of navigating citizens who participate to a global worldwide sampling.

Results expected end of September 2015.

R4WO – Scientific results

Preliminary results : social aspect

On every island (except for Hawaii)

1) Awareness raising is always a pillar 2) High costs related to shoreline clean-ups 3) Local people face marine debris with their own means 4) Local initiatives are key when the municipality does have the means/political will5) Systemic problems related to the waste management

Race for Water Odyssey Mid-term report

AWARENESS

44 organizations met

1 network of WATER GUARDIAN EXPERTS with 170 people contacted

7 partnerships with Swiss embassies, consulates or Swisness

500 children met

1 conference at the UN

8 public events touching

more than 3600 people

8 press conferences372 publications in 35 countries4090 followers on Facebook