Earlier this month, the High Seas Treaty became a reality. What sounds like a deal between pirates over a bottle of rum, is in fact a historic UN agreement that’s been 20 years in the making.
The new agreement brings us closer to the goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030.
Currently, only 1% of international waters - known as the high seas - is protected. Under the treaty, activities like fishing, shipping routes and deep-sea mining would have to stop in certain ocean areas, in order to prevent biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage.
There's just one catch.
The currents that transport floating bits of plastic don’t care about imaginary ocean borders.
Unless we prevent plastic waste from entering our waters, more and more plastic will continue to pollute them – whether it’s a protected area or not.
So, what can you do?
Bring. Your. Reusable. Bottle.
Stick a note on your front door, set a reminder on your phone, or attach your bottle to your bag. Don’t want to do it alone? Add your name to the more than 1 million drops in the Dopper Wave by signing the pledge against single-use water bottles.