Challenge

The surge of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the increased use of plastic medical and protective equipment, such as single-use gloves, masks and aprons. Much of this equipment must be discarded after use to limit the spread of the virus. Joffrey Peltier, member of the environmental organisation Operation Mer Propre in France, came across large quantities of latex gloves, face masks and bottles of hand sanitiser in the Mediterranean sea upon exploration (C. Koryn, Another Side Effect of COVID-19: The Surge in Plastic Pollution, retrieved from earth.org). This development indicates a new kind of pollution that adds to the already existing plastic problem and poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems.

Innovation

The aim of the OCEA(n)RT project is to boost youth participation to address plastic -“COVID-Waste”- litter through visual art works in Sweden, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. At the same time, targeted dissemination and advocacy activities will take place in Belgium and the UK.

The OCEA(n)RT consortium has set the following objectives:

▪ Extend the competences of at least 240 youth workers, working/collaborating with CSOs, youth and environmental organisations, cultural and creative sector grassroots, in order to foster their ability to enhance youth participation and to motivate youth to address pandemic relevance to plastic litter through visual art works.

▪ Enhance access to CSOs, youth and environmental organisations, cultural and creative sector grassroots to relevant roadmaps and good practices to ensure youth participation in ocean protection activities and actions to address pandemic relevance to plastic litter.

▪ Support at least 120 CSOs, youth and environmental organisations, cultural and creative sector grassroots’ to raise public awareness, to lead and contribute to the development of youth policies that promote active participation of youth in the fight against marine and “COVID-Waste” litter.