Statement draft decision on marine litter on behalf of NGOs.

We welcome this resolution because we believe that immediate action has to be taken and we call on governments to raise awareness on this issue, especially in coastal countries and Small Island Developing States. There is growing concern about the threat that microplastics poses to marine animal life. Strategic action on plastics is important because they make up at least 60% or marine debris. Changes in the composition of plastics and reduction in land-based sources of debris would do much to reduce this threat.