This week we speak with Ph.D. researcher, Babet de Groot.  We discuss:

• the plastic problem
• ocean gyres
• Biodegradable vs. degradable
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the difficulty in controlling/governing plastic in the mid-ocean.
• UN Conventions for Ocean Plastic
• NSW Plastic Discussion Plan

Babet is currently researching at the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney.  Thanks for joining us Babet! Let us know what you think by tagging @lifeonplaneta_podcast on your socials.

3:53 - The struggles of doing honors versus a thesis.

6:00 - Working at GHD

7:02 - What Babet does?

7:17 - Marine Plastic Pollution

7:41 - What is an ocean gyre?

9:07 -Degrading versus biodegradable

10:38 - Photodegradation (plastic degradation)

14:00 - Great Pacific Garbage Patch

20:00- UN Conventions for Ocean Plastic

27:00 -NSW plastic discussion

33:00 - Whose responsibility is it to deal with waste?

36:41 - China’s operational national sword

39:22 - Social and economic effects of plastic pollution

55:03 - Common but differentiated responsibility 

57:15 - Transboundary issue of problem

1:02 - Plastic Myths

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