Thesis Defense: Plastic vs. Policy: A Plastic Pollution Policy Analysis in the Arctic

In the coming weeks, UW master's students will defend their theses. The subjects are varied and the students are from both master's programs, Coastal Marine Management and Coastal Communities and Regional Development. The defenses are accessible to everyone through zoom links but they are also open to the public, at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður.

Student: Louise Wittwer
Date & time: September 11th at 9:30
Thesis title: Plastic vs. Policy: A Plastic Pollution Policy Analysis in the Arctic
Program: Coastal Communities and Regional Development
Zoom link: https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/68018684579

Abstract: Plastic pollution is a global problem that can be found everywhere on Earth, even in remote places like the Arctic. Negative impacts of plastic pollution include threats to life, health, and fitness of a multitude of species and the ecosystems they live in. Effects on humans include impacts on health as well as socio-economic and cultural impacts on individuals and whole communities. For this reason, different strategies aim at mitigating these impacts by minimizing the amount of plastic entering the environment or reducing plastic in the environment through clean-up strategies. Policies are a popular tool to address the plastic pollution issue on an international, national, or local level. This study aims to conduct an international plastic policy analysis comparing the Arctic nations Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway in relation to their policies. As plastic pollution easily spreads from country to country, it is important that countries cooperate on the issue and harmonize regulations. In order to do so, policies are reviewed, and semi-structured stakeholder interviews are conducted for a comprehensive study. The results of the study indicate different tendencies to represent the problem of plastic pollution throughout the decades.

Defense schedule for this defense season: