Nordics’ united front to fight plastic in the oceans

Ministers hope to apply pressure to the UN and EU regarding the issue

The Nordic environmental ministers have agreed to place more focus on tackling plastic and microplastics in the oceans.

The agreement means the Nordic nations will form a united front on the issue at the upcoming UN climate summit UNEA-2, which is due to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from May 23-27.

“Plastic in the oceans is a massive global problem bereft of simple solutions that requires international co-operation,” said the Danish environmental and food minister, Esben Lunde Larsen.

READ MORE: Danish expedition studying plastic pollution in the Pacific

Pressure on EU
The aim of the Nordic front is to also work towards a strong European position regarding the issue, and to this end the nations will compose a letter to the EU Commission to underline the importance of the plastic dilemma.

The EU is currently working on a financial package regarding the issue, and the Nordic nations contend it is essential for the package to include solutions that aim to solve the plastic problem.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be acting ourselves,” said Larsen. “In Denmark, we are working actively with solutions, such as supporting attempts to cleanse wastewater of micro plastics.”





  • How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    Being part of a trade union is a long-established norm for Danes. But many internationals do not join unions – instead enduring workers’ rights violations. Find out how joining a union could benefit you, and how to go about it.

  • Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals are overrepresented in the lowest-paid fields of agriculture, transport, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, and construction – industries that classically lack collective agreements. A new analysis from the Workers’ Union’s Business Council suggests that internationals rarely join trade unions – but if they did, it would generate better industry standards.

  • Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    The numbers are especially striking amongst the 3,477 business and economics students polled, of whom 31 percent elected Novo Nordisk as their favorite, compared with 20 percent last year.