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PolskiOcean Initiatives
Surfrider Foundation Europe is a European non-profit organization focused on protecting the ocean, lakes, and rivers from plastic pollution. By enabling a large network of volunteers, it operates local volunteer branchers that organize campaigns and activities regarding plastic consumption and reduction, especially in the oceans.
2022 - Ongoing
Europe
Description of the Green Initiative
- Young people
- NGOs
Ocean Initiatives is a program organized by Surfrider Foundation Europe.
The program aims to address the following objectives:
- To eliminate plastic pollution
- To raise awareness of the marine litter issue
- To protect the environment
- To encourage young people to organize cleanups, by providing them educational material and tools.
The Ocean Initiatives is an online platform consisting of initiatives that aim to reduce plastic pollution, enabling citizens to protect the oceans. Interested people can register on the platform and network with other volunteers in their area. The volunteers are free to organize beach clean-ups and initiatives at a local level. After collecting plastics, the volunteers provide information to the organization which analyzes it and publishes data about plastic pollution in the different areas of Europe. Also, interested parties can find the plastic toolkit and use it in their activities.
During 2022, 2,184 collections were organized resulting in the collection of 1,095,128 litter items collected. At the same time, 625 organizers implemented those collections and 22,529 people took part in the activities. Finally, 79,162 people were made aware of the plastic waste footprint.
The program showcases innovative elements. The program promotes active youth participation focusing on decision-making through the implementation of youth-led activities.
The clean-up activities implemented under the program can be updated and adapted in various locations by different teams. Also, engagement in the activities allows young people to expand their network.