Nature conservation
“A major task”
Overfishing, coral bleaching, plastic waste: the condition of the oceans is deteriorating dramatically. The still fledgling Clean Oceans Initiative, of which KfW is a founding member, is working to combat pollution in our oceans. The initial results are impressive. One year after the initiative was launched in mid-October 2018, KfW, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French development agency AFD have already committed EUR 737.9 million for a total of twelve projects.
About the persons
Barbara Schnell (left) has worked at KfW since 2001. She initially spent a number of years working as a project manager for water / waste water and team lead responsible for financial system development in Asia. Since April 2018, she has held the position of Head of the Sector Policy department at KfW Development Bank, which handles sector-specific topics and knowledge management.
Eva Witt has been at KfW since 1995. She held the position of Head of the Eastern Europe department at KfW Development Bank, then the Federal and European Affairs Department in the General Secretariat and, since 2020, the Customised Finance and Public Clients Division.
Why has plastic waste in our oceans suddenly become such a hot topic?
BARBARA SCHNELL: The issue is not a new one. However, people have realised that our oceans are overloaded with waste and that they are not an everlasting resource. Images of dead whales with huge amounts of plastic in their stomachs will certainly have played their part. The inclusion of ocean protection in the UN Sustainable Development Goals – not something that was envisaged from the start – also sent an important signal. Resolutely dealing with this issue is one of the major tasks of our time.
Could you give us some details?
EVA WITT: The oceans are of fundamental importance for the climate and biodiversity. They provide a food resource for around two billion people. The condition of the oceans, however, is deteriorating dramatically, through overfishing, coral bleaching and clearing of mangroves, and also the rapidly accelerating rate of pollution with solid waste. Today, it is estimated that 150 million tonnes of plastic waste are already in the oceans. Plastic places marine wildlife at risk and can also affect humans as it returns through the food chain.
And what can the global community do in view of these dimensions?
SCHNELL: There are already a number of projects that approach the problem from different angles – ranging from the establishment of conservation zones to waste prevention and sewage treatment. KfW's waste management portfolio in coastal countries alone totals around EUR 340 million; the money flows in 17 projects.
Get the oceans clean!
In mid-October 2018, KfW Group launched the Clean Oceans Initiative together with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French Agence Française de Developpement (AFD). The partners have committed an initial amount of EUR 2 billion for reducing plastic pollution of the oceans.
Learn moreAnd KfW is not alone in this undertaking?
WITT: Correct. In 2018 we founded the Clean Oceans Initiative, a European initiative to protect the oceans from pollution and contamination by waste, together with the EIB and the AFD. By 2023, we intend to make EUR 2 billion available to finance waste management and sewage treatment in developing countries and emerging economies. In the meantime, KfW has committed a total of EUR 301.5 million under the Clean Oceans Initiative on behalf of the the federal government: the funds will be channelled into projects in South Africa, Indonesia, Costa Rica, China, Albania and finally Georgia, for which the contract has just been signed. The EIB also has commitments of EUR 340.1 million in Egypt, Benin and Argentina and AFD of EUR 96.3 million in Congo, Sri Lanka and Togo. Additional projects are also underway.
Many developing countries are not only faced with the problem of dealing with their own waste, but often also with the exported waste from us.
WITT: Which is why we Europeans must take responsibility. We need to organise our own economies to use resources more efficiently and be more sustainable. This year we will launch a platform together with other national promotional banks in Europe that we can use to promote projects in the recycling economy sector. We would also like to work together with the European Commission, which already adopted a Circular Economy Action Plan in 2015. Promoting a circular economy is intended to support the competitiveness of Europe's economy while ensuring resource conservation and low carbon emissions.
What makes you confident that the enormous problem of plastic pollution can be tackled?
SCHNELL: Protection of the rain forests started back in the nineteen eighties with small measures but since then we have achieved great success by combining sustainable usage patterns with improved conservation. In many areas the rate of deforestation is on the decline. Nearly two dozen countries – including China, Chile or Vietnam – have been able to increase the size of their forest areas. Why should it not be possible to do the same for the sea that we have done for the land?
Published on KfW Stories on 12 October 2018, last updated on 11 January 2022.
The described project contributes to the following United Nationsʼ Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Humanity has long lived beyond its ecological means. This applies in particular to industrial countries and the growing upper and middle classes in many emerging economies. The transition to an economic strategy and way of life that respects the natural limitations of our planet can only be successful if we adjust our consumption habits and production techniques. Internationally valid rules for labour, health and environmental protection are important for this.
All United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda in 2015. At its heart is a list of 17 goals for sustainable development, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our world should become a place where people are able to live in peace with each other in ways that are ecologically compatible, socially just, and economically effective.
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