OPERATIONAL BRIEF Marine Pollution BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 1 © 2022 The World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 | Internet: www.worldbank.org Acknowledgments This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank Group with external contributions. “The World Bank Group” This brief was written by Kanako Hasegawa (Environmental In addition, the team received incisive and helpful advice, refers to the legally separate organizations of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), Specialist). 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BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 1 About the Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program The Blue Economy generated nearly US$300 billion for the African continent in 2018, creating 49 million jobs in the Key Messages process. These and other crucial benefits—most notably food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and resilience to the effects of climate change—are entirely dependent on the health and productivity of coastal and marine areas. By safeguarding productive coastal landscapes, countries will be in a better position to take full advantage of future Blue Economy opportunities, which range from sustainable A resilient Blue Economy relies on healthy, pollution-free marine and blue energy to aquaculture to blue carbon. coastal ecosystems. The World Bank’s Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program, announced at COP27, will provide multisectoral analytical, financial, and policy support to Africa’s coastal countries A coordinated set of actions is needed to achieve required and island states to help them leverage the opportunities—and manage the risks—inherent systemic change for a circular economy. These actions in scaling up their Blue Economies. need to take place upstream and downstream of the value chains. The solutions include promoting a circular economy About this series of briefs approach, improving solid waste infrastructure and services, and strong monitoring of plastic pollution for proactive action and removal. For wastewater, the use of practical low-cost The Blue Solutions for Africa series of operational briefs technologies, with an emphasis on circular captures how a thriving Blue Economy can help African economy approaches, is gaining attention. countries better manage the development challenges they face while supporting economic growth, sustainable A broad range of innovative finance options livelihoods, and the health of these precious ecosystems. will be needed to implement these solutions. © Vincent Tremeau / World Bank THE BRIEFS COVER THE FOLLOWING THEMATIC AREAS Better oil spill detection and monitoring are needed to better manage oil spills. A clear regulatory framework and national response • Climate change • Data management and systems (with regional coordination and cooperation), along with knowledge creation • Coastal and marine contingency plans and training, are needed to improve the response biodiversity and habitats • Innovative financing when such spills are detected. instruments • Sustainable fisheries • Developing and incentivizing • Marine pollution institutions • Jobs and livelihoods © Shutterstock • New frontiers of innovation • Participatory marine spatial planning © IFreepik 4 MARINE POLLUTION BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 3 © Freepik The Challenge Africa is facing intensifying marine pollution, driven by a rapidly growing population, urbanization, and changing Introduction consumer purchasing habits. The coastal populations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to grow by Across Africa, rising populations and increased 18 percent and 42 percent respectively socioeconomic activity in coastal areas are resulting in between 2020 and 2035. increasing marine pollution. Rather than expand their Blue Economies, countries are instead needing to combat pollution in coastal and marine waters to mitigate the threats posed to biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, food Coastal areas are hotspots for development activities in many African countries. In Morocco, for example, coastal key ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves, and salt marshes absorbing up to 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare per year— security, and human health. areas are home to more than 60 percent of its population much higher than most terrestrial ecosystems. Marine pollution, and host to 90 percent of its industries. Such intensification including from oil spills, negatively impacts these critical ecosystem of activity is resulting in more pollution from land discharging functions. During the 2020 MV Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius, This brief presents the challenges and potential solutions for three types of marine pollution: into rivers and seas. Indeed, by 2025, annual municipal about 1,000 tons of oil was spilled into the ocean, affecting carbon- solid waste generation in the region is projected to double storing ecosystems, including seagrass and mangrove forests. plastics, wastewater, and oil spills. The World Bank is well placed to provide analytical, by 2025 from the 2012 baseline of 125 million tons. technical, policy and capacity development assistance relating to marine pollution. In addition, Addressing marine pollution in Africa will provide multiple the World Bank provides financing through a range of instruments for initiatives that seek Marine pollution is a major threat to marine health and benefits, including climate benefits, biodiversity conservation, to combat marine pollution by improving waste management, strengthening and expanding therefore to Africa’s Blue Economy, which is expected to be and food security, while protecting livelihoods and human wastewater treatment, and protecting the marine and coastal environment. With ocean health worth US$405 billion and generate 57 million jobs by 2030. health, and reducing economic loss. Investing in pollution widely recognized as a key contributor for addressing climate change, the World Bank’s work Plastic pollution in the ocean alone costs 0.8 percent of gross management to protect Africa’s blue assets is key for domestic product (GDP) on average in the MENA region. Marine governments to reach the potential of the Blue Economy. will enable African countries to transition towards a resilient and inclusive Blue Economy. pollution comes at a high cost and hampers socioeconomic development by impacting fisheries, which endangers the While progress has been made, African countries continue to face livelihoods and food security of coastal communities, and challenges with marine pollution management due to inadequate other economic activities such as tourism and shipping. governance and institutional frameworks, lack of financing for developing and maintaining infrastructure, and lack of equipment Besides affecting key economic sectors, marine pollution for pollution control. undermines the ocean’s resilience and potential to mitigate climate change impacts. Globally, the ocean is estimated to absorb 30 percent of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with 2 I MARINE POLLUTION 4 BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 5 LINKING MARINE POLLUTION WITH CLIMATE CHANGE Wastewater The following examples demonstrate how climate change can worsen the effects of marine pollution, further threatening the development of Africa’s Blue Economy. Despite the progress in wastewater collection and treatment, untreated wastewater continues to be discharged into the marine INTEGRATED APPROACHES ARE NEEDED TO CONSERVE MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS environment, either directly or indirectly through freshwater AND ADAPT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT MEASURES TO CHANGING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. ecosystems. (Wastewater refers to the combination of one or more of domestic, commercial, and industrial effluents, storm water, other urban-run-off, and agricultural, horticultural, and Marine plastic pollution and climate change aquaculture effluent.) In Morocco, for example, 52 percent of Plastics originate from fossil fuels and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at various stages of its usage cycle. sewage is estimated to be discharged into the sea without any Plastics can also increase flooding risks under intensifying weather events due to climate change by blocking treatment. Wastewater inputs can lead to eutrophication, algal stormwater drainage systems. Stagnant water in blocked systems can increase the risks of vector-borne diseases, blooms, reduction of oxygen, and the creation of dead zones such as malaria. Localized flooding can occur in areas without adequate drainage, including slum areas. This is of in the ocean. Untreated wastewater also costs society: in particular concern in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 53.6 percent of urban population live in slums. Senegal, the cost of untreated domestic wastewater amounts Wastewater and climate change to US$41 million. In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, more than Stormwater from intensifying rainfalls can infiltrate existing wastewater networks and lead to the discharge of Sewage is of particular concern given the lack of sewerage untreated wastewater into the marine environment. Sea-level rise can also damage existing wastewater treatment collection systems and the growth of peri-urban informal infrastructure. Aging wastewater treatments plants throughout the continent are of concern due to this vulnerability. settlements. In Africa, 779 million people lacked access to basic 9,000 oil spills sanitation services and, of those, 208 million still practiced open Oil spills and climate change defecation in 2020. Due to a lack of sanitation, many people in An increase in extreme weather events, especially in low-lying coastal areas, will increase the risk of oil spills. Africa continue to suffer from water-related diseases. Limited infrastructure, water-quality monitoring, and poor operation and were recorded between Weather events such as hurricanes and flooding can damage oil infrastructure, including refineries, and can lead to oil spills. Oil spills affect coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrasses, which play a crucial maintenance pose challenges to wastewater management in role in disaster risk reduction. This increases vulnerability to climatic events. the region. 2006 and 2015. Marine plastic pollution Oil spills PLASTIC WASTE ENTERING SEAS In 2015, Africa produced 19 million tons of plastic waste, of PER PERSON, 2010 Oil spills—the release of petroleum hydrocarbon into the marine which 88.5 percent—amounting to 17 million tons—was thought environment—are often linked to accidents of vessels, pipelines, to be mismanaged. Demographic changes, continuing rapid East Asia refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities. Land-based sources, urbanization, and poor waste management is expected to result and Pacific such as untreated wastewater, also lead to the discharge of oil into in Africa becoming the becoming the largest contributor to global Europe and the marine environment. In Africa, 6.69 tons of oil are estimated to mismanaged plastic waste by 2060. Central Asia be accidentally spilled for every million tons of crude oil produced. Latin America and Plastic waste pollution, aggravated by inefficient waste the Caribbean Oil spills can have significant economic impacts, hindering collection and limited recycling capabilities, is prevalent across Middle East and socioeconomic growth opportunities. In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, Africa. On average, a MENA inhabitant disperses more than North Africa for example, more than 9,000 spills were recorded between 2006 6 kilograms (kg) of plastics per year into the ocean, while a and 2015. These spills affected terrestrial and marine resources Sub-Saharan African inhabitant disperses more than 5 kg per year. North America such as mangrove forests, and in some cases led to the the loss Mismanaged plastic waste is expected to increase significantly of ancestral homes, agricultural land and fishing grounds, and the between 2010 and 2025, especially in coastal countries such South Asia reduction of the fish population. In 2018 alone, the cost of oil spills as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Senegal. in the coastal Delta was estimated at US$66 million, equivalent Sub-Saharan Countries across Africa need to invest in upstream policies to to 0.5 percent of its GDP. Africa reduce single-use plastics, improve waste management and resource recovery, manage public health risks, and enhance 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 opportunities for livelihoods and jobs from reuse, recycling, Volume of marine plastic waste and recovery. (kg/person/year) Figure 1: Plastic waste entering seas per person, 2010 Source: World Bank, 2022 © Freepik 6 I MARINE POLLUTION 5 BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 7 Marine plastic pollution Addressing marine plastic pollution requires systemic Innovative initiatives are also emerging, such as the change through a range of interventions both upstream new waste collection scheme by WeCyclers in Nigeria. What is Needed and downstream the value chain. These include phasing out unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic products and Some solutions to marine plastic pollution can simultaneously polymers; developing incentives and fiscal instruments to address climate change. For example, removing harmful promote circularity; developing policy measures on the use of subsidies on fossil fuels could help uptake alternative plastics in agriculture; investing in waste management; improving materials and incentivize the use of recycled plastics, as port reception facilities; enhancing monitoring; investing in opposed to virgin plastics, while reducing carbon emissions. research and innovation; and promoting behavior change. African countries need to decisively address marine pollution Currently only four percent of municipal waste is recycled in if they wish to develop a sustainable Blue Economy. Holistic African countries have already taken steps to address this growing concern, with at least 29 nations having regulatory Africa. However, diverting waste for reuse, recovery, and recycling could generate up to US$8 billon per year for the continent while approaches are needed to restore and rebuild the resilience frameworks on plastics. Rwanda was the first African country to place legislative bans on plastic bags in 2008. In creating jobs. In South Africa, for example, 46.3 percent of plastic was recycled and the sector provided more than 7,800 formal of marine and coastal ecosystems. While different types of 2019, the law was extended to all single-use plastic items. jobs in 2018. marine pollution require different solutions, the following general approaches are useful for addressing the three types Wastewater of marine pollution. Almost all countries in Africa are impacted by water scarcity, and reduced wastewater pollution but also increased the sustainability Use the source-to-sea approach. With the high Enhance monitoring and data management. the situation is likely to worsen due to climate change. At the of municipal wastewater management. And in New Cairo, Egypt, density of people living near river systems in Africa, Integrated data on marine pollution—which same time, demand for energy and food across the continent is a public-private project supported by the International Finance rivers are likely to transport land-based pollutants includes physical, chemical, biological, and growing. Applying circular economy approaches to wastewater Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to the ocean. The source-to-sea approach is geographical data—are often unavailable in Africa. can help African countries shift away from treating wastewater as has resulted in the construction of a new wastewater treatment based on systems thinking and acknowledges the Regularly monitoring marine pollution is key for waste and move towards resource recovery. Resource recovery plant that is able to treat 250,000 cubic meters of wastewater interdependence and connectivity of river basins, making evidence-based decisions, ensuring the measures could include using treated water for domestic flushing, a day. The resulting water is used for agricultural purposes, deltas, estuaries, coasts, and marine ecosystems. Ecosystems sustainable use of marine resources, and developing the Blue gardening purposes, irrigation, aquaculture, and industrial uses; while the sludge by-product is sold to the cement industry. are connected through flows of water, biota, sediment, materials, Economy. Monitoring also helps evaluate the impacts of policy recovering nutrients and organic matter as fertilizer; generating and pollutants. The approach can be used not only to address and management interventions. biogas through anaerobic digestion; and using sludge and To move towards resource recovery and reduce marine pollution, marine pollution, but also to plan climate actions. For example, it sludge ash to manufacture bricks and other building materials. African countries need to invest in wastewater management can be used to understand the systemic impact climate change Strengthen transboundary cooperation. Marine through a range of interventions. These include: strengthening has on flows and pollutants, and to plan necessary mitigation and pollution is a transboundary challenge that requires There are already several successful examples of circular policy and governance frameworks; establishing water-quality adaptation actions. regional and international cooperation. Regional economy approaches in Africa and across the world. In Durban, standards; investing in sanitation and wastewater treatment seas agreements (such as the Barcelona, South Africa, for example, a public-private partnership was facilities; improving monitoring of effluent quality; developing and Promote circular economy strategies. The Nairobi, Abidjan, and Jeddah conventions) formed with a paper industry and an oil refinery to recycle treated applying innovative technologies suitable for the local context; circular economy approach aims to reduce waste provide frameworks for regional cooperation on wastewater for industrial reuse. The private sector covered the enhancing capacity of wastewater professionals; and promoting to a minimum through sharing, leasing, reusing, marine pollution. project cost, totaling R72 million (about US$4 million), for the public participation. repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing municipality to upgrade the existing treatment facilities. This not only materials. Circular economy approaches can be Engage stakeholders across sectors and used to develop solutions throughout the plastic stakeholder groups. All stakeholders need to lifecycle. These include using alternative plant- join forces to address marine pollution. In the based sources of plastics; redesigning products; and reusing and recycling plastics. Shifting to a circular plastic economy is case of plastics, for example, concerted action by stakeholders across the plastics value chain—from Oil spills estimated to generate 700,000 jobs by 2040, mainly in the Global plastic producers to waste managers—is needed South. The approach presents opportunities for Africa to create to reduce marine plastic pollution. When engaging stakeholders, Prevention is of paramount importance. It costs less than Various technologies, such as Earth observation, can help African much-needed new jobs. gender-based differences in the impact of pollution should be responding to oil-spill incidents. African countries need to invest countries monitor oil spills at a reduced cost compared to boat considered to address gender inequality, which remains high in prevention and improving preparedness. Relevant measures or aerial surveys. In Ghana, for example, an Earth observation Use preventative actions, precautionary in Africa. include establishing a legislative and regulatory framework; service was used to identify large-area spills and discharges, principles, and the “polluter pays” principle. developing a reliable national system for preparedness and which were occurring at least every month in the same location Preventing oil spills is much more cost-effective response with robust contingency plans; conducting training and (Figure 3). Cost-effective detection of oil spill is important in the than responding to them and could avoid capacity building; and procuring and maintaining equipment for context of newly discovered oil and gas deposits, and increasing serious and irreversible damage to the marine response actions. Prescribed response actions will depend on maritime traffic in West Africa. environment. The “polluter pays” principle means various factors such as the type, scale, and location of the oil spill, that those who pollute should bear the costs of the but in general will involve the use of dispersant chemicals and the damage to the marine environment. Applying fees on plastic bags use of booms and skimmers to contain and recover from the spill. and extended producer responsibility schemes are examples of how this principle is applied. 6 I MARINE POLLUTION 8 BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 9 Marine plastic pollution How the The World Bank has developed various tools to help policymakers governments in assessing marine across the world formulate a coherent set of policies to address plastic pollution, developing policies and marine plastic pollution. The recent report, Where Is the Value in regulations, conducting market studies the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution, presents two new on plastic circularity, raising awareness, such tools: the Plastics Policy Simulator, which helps describe and promoting innovation. World Bank Group country-level impacts of different policy instruments and policy packages on individual economic agents and on the plastics Within Africa, the World Bank provides © Freepik value chain; and the Plastic Substitution Tradeoff Estimator, analytical and technical support to governments which can inform target-setting by estimating the external costs seeking solutions to marine plastic waste. It works Contributes to of 10 plastic products and their alternatives along their lifecycle. with governments to develop national action plans, which can play an important role in the future implementation Within Africa, the World Bank provides analytical and technical of an international, legally binding instrument on marine litter, support to governments seeking solutions to marine plastic waste. which is currently being negotiated. The World Bank also support Solutions It works with governments to develop national action plans, governments in assessing marine plastic pollution, developing which can play an important role in the future implementation policies and regulations, conducting market studies on plastic of an international, legally binding instrument on marine litter, circularity, raising awareness, and promoting innovation. which is currently being negotiated. The World Bank also support The World Bank provides analytical support and With the World Bank’s technical and analytical support: investments tailored to Africa’s regional and national • Morocco has prepared a national strategy and an pollution; value-chain diagnostics; and an assessment of health action plan for plastic-free coastlines based on care facilities’ plastic waste management under COVID-19. contexts and the various pollution challenges. analytical work under the MENA BLUE program. • Tunisia also conducted an assessment of the status of • Tanzania used drone images to assess marine plastic pollution marine plastic pollution under the MENA BLUE program. at 11 coastal hotspots in the first such assessment in the country. The drone footage was supplemented by on-site hand-sorting. • Senegal embarked on the Municipal Solid Waste Management Project, an initiative designed to help • Ghana is developing an extended plastic producer waste-pickers with social, entrepreneurial, and skills responsibility policy for plastic packaging, including an development. The project is also funding a recycling e-registration system, under the framework of the Greater facility to improve management of the recycling process. Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project. • Egypt is improving the management of all waste streams • Mozambique developed a Plastics Social Innovation Process (municipal solid waste, health care waste, electronic waste, and assessed its circular economy opportunities to create an and plastic waste) by applying circular economy and extended enabling environment for innovation under the MozAzul Program. producer responsibility concepts under the Egypt Greater Cairo Air Pollution Management and Climate Change Project, a • Nigeria is conducting a series of analyses that includes an US$200 million project supported by the Global Environmental assessment of solid waste management and marine plastic Facility (US$10 million) and PROBLUE (US$0.485 million). Regionally, the World Bank’s West Africa Coastal Areas Management (WACA) program helps countries curb marine plastic pollution, create finance opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and spur citizen engagement to make coastal communities more resilient. The program is currently conducting technical work to address key knowledge and data gaps about plastic pollution and the value chain in West Africa in order to contribute to government and regional agendas. The World Bank also provides financing for solutions that address marine plastic pollution. The World Bank currently supports various countries across the world as they seek to harmonize policies; create platforms for innovation and financing; access grants for plastic solutions; and improve plastic waste Figure 2: NGO workers sort through plastic waste to identify the types, management at the national and subnational level to reduce amounts, and sources of plastic in a project funded through the World plastic pollution from municipal solid waste. Bank’s PROBLUE Trust Fund. Source: World Bank, 2022 10 8II MARINE MARINE POLLUTION POLLUTION © Freepik BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 11 Oil spills Wastewater The World Bank supports countries and regions seeking to prevent oil spills and enhance The World Bank provides analytical assistance to African preparedness to respond when such spills do occur in the marine environment. For example, the countries that seek to implement circular and resilience World Bank has supported: principles into how they manage their wastewater. The World Bank produced a report for Senegal • The improvement of preparedness in Morocco under the • Underwater and surface inspections of the abandoned Sèmè- noting that a circular economy approach could Blue Economy Program for Results Program) through Podji oil platform in Benin to inform updated feasibility studies see wastewater being reused for irrigation training, and in Ghana (under the West Africa Coastal Areas into decommissioning the platform and an environmental and to recharge aquifers, while wetlands Management Program) through training and equipment. monitoring plan to manage the site’s pollution risks. This and green infrastructure could be used project was done through the West Africa Coastal Areas to improve stormwater management. • The development of a regional oil spill contingency plan for Management Program. Red Sea and Guld of Aden countries and the establishment The World Bank provides capacity of a regional marine emergency mutual aid center in Egypt. building, technical assistance, and finance for investment projects to The World Bank also support emergency responses to oil spill incidents across enhance wastewater management, the world. Response activities can include containment, clean-up, provision improve sanitation, and reduce marine pollution at both the national of protective equipment to volunteers and community members, and and regional levels. At the regional consultations with fisher people who have lost livelihoods. level, the World Bank provides platforms that support capacity building, establishes network of water professionals for knowledge- sharing, and provides analytical and advisory services. At the national level, it works with governments to improve will Look Like their sanitation services, better manage wastewater, and reduce marine pollution. Figure 3: The circular economy approach to wastewater management. Source: Water in Circular Economy and Resilience Investments to reduce and Significant prevent marine pollution investment is © Freepik Case study are necessary for Africa to needed to move TUNISIAN WASTEWATER harness the potential of the towards pollution-free PROJECT IMPROVES DISCHARGE INTO MEDITERRANEAN SEA Blue Economy. development pathways. The Northern Tunis Wastewater Project in Tunisia, a project co-financed with the Global Environment Facility, aims to improve the discharge of treated African countries need to implement integrated approaches to The World Bank therefore provides support to African countries wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea by constructing underground channels address marine pollution while building resilience to climate and regions by conducting assessments, developing policies, and outfall, and a wastewater storage basin. change. Application of circular economy approaches can present strengthen institutional capacity, enhancing monitoring, and an opportunity for the countries not only to reduce pollution, but investing in solutions, including infrastructure development, so The impact has been clear: water quality along the coast has improved since also to use waste and wastewater as a resource and create that the continent can develop a more inclusive and resilient 2015 (Figure 4) and, for the first time in years, Tunisia’s health authorities socioeconomic opportunities. Blue Economy. opened Raoued Beach, just north of Tunis, for swimming, giving a boost to the local economy. Figure 4: Municipal wastewater from the The project also supports improved water-quality monitoring and promotes El Khelij drainage canal, north of Tunis, in the reuse of treated wastewater for farming and urban spaces. 2015 (top) and after 2020 (bottom). Piping wastewater under land and sea has proven to be visibly better for the environment. Source: World Bank 12 I MARINE POLLUTION © Freepik 11 BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 13