Counter MEASURE project

Counter MEASURE project

Subject – Environment

Context – An estimated 11 million metric tonnes of plastic are entering the world’s oceans every year, and without urgent action, this number is set to increase to 23-37 million tonnes by 2040.

Concept –

• The Counter MEASURE project works to identify sources and pathways of plastic pollution in river systems in Asia, particularly the Mekong and the Ganges.
• It is a project by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Japan, which aims to track, survey, and offer solutions for reducing plastic leakage into rivers in Asia.
• The project has developed plastic leakage models for localities in 6 different countries using an innovative and replicable approach.
• Deploying technologies like GIS, machine learning and drones has allowed the Counter MEASURE team to augment ground-level research in an efficient and scalable way.
• This scientific knowledge can then be used to inform policy decisions and actions to beat plastic pollution and ensure rivers are free of plastic waste.