Leverage points for addressing marine and coastal pollution: A review

Maraja Riechers; Benedikt P. Brunner; Jan Claas Dajka; Ioana A. Dușe; Hannah M. Lübker; Aisa O. Manlosa; Juan Emilio Sala; Tamara Schaal; Sabine Weidlich

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112263

Leverage points for addressing marine and coastal pollution: A review

Maraja Riechers
, Benedikt P. Brunner
, Jan Claas Dajka
, Ioana A. Dușe
, Hannah M. Lübker
, Aisa O. Manlosa
, Juan Emilio Sala
, Tamara Schaal
, Sabine Weidlich

Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite an increasing understanding of the issue of marine pollution, humanity continues on a largely unsustainable trajectory. This study aimed to identify and classify the range of scientific studies and interventions to address coastal and marine pollution. We reviewed 2417 scientific papers published between 2000 and 2018, 741 of which we analysed in depth. To classify pollution interventions, we applied the systems-oriented concept of leverage points, which focuses on places to intervene in complex systems to bring about systemic change. We found that pollution is largely studied as a technical problem and fewer studies engage with pollution as a systemic social-ecological issue. While recognising the importance of technical solutions, we highlight the need to focus on under-researched areas pertaining to the deeper drivers of pollution (e.g. institutions, values) which are needed to fundamentally alter system trajectories.

Original language	English
Article number	112263
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	167
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0025-326X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112263
Publication status	Published - 01.06.2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Stefan Hilser and Julius Rathgens for their methodological advice. This work was supported by the prolongation of the Leverage points project funded by Volkswagenstiftung and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Grant Number A112269 ). AOM was funded by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to Achim Schlüter and Anna-Katharina Hornidge.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 14 Life Below Water

Research areas and keywords

Environmental planning
Marine debris
Marine litter
Oil spills
Plastics
Social-ecological systems
Sustainability transformations
Environmental Monitoring
Ecosystem
Environmental Pollution
Waste Products/analysis

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112263Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

DownloadFinal published version, 1.95 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Leverage Points for Sustainability Transformation: Institutions, People and Knowledge
Vilsmaier, U. (Project manager, academic), Lang, D. J. (Project manager, academic), Newig, J. (Project manager, academic), Fischer, J. (Project manager, academic), Schomerus, T. (Project manager, academic), von Wehrden, H. (Project manager, academic), Sieveking, A. (Project staff), Klaniecki, K. T. (Project staff), Dorninger, C. (Project staff), Clarke, E. A. (Project staff), Horcea-Milcu, A. I. (Project staff), Lam, D. (Project staff), Patru-Duse, I. A. (Project staff), Jager, N. W. (Project staff), Derwort, P. (Project staff), Patru-Duse, I. A. (Project staff), Apetrei, C.-I. (Project staff), Freeth, R. C. (Project staff), Engbers, M. (Project staff), Peukert, D. (Project staff), Berkau, A. J. (Project staff), Lutz, L. M. (Coordination), Leventon, J. (Project manager, academic) & Abson, D. (Project manager, academic)
Ministry of Science and Culture of the state of Lower Saxony in Germany
01.04.15 → 31.03.21
Project: Research

Cite this

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abstract = "Despite an increasing understanding of the issue of marine pollution, humanity continues on a largely unsustainable trajectory. This study aimed to identify and classify the range of scientific studies and interventions to address coastal and marine pollution. We reviewed 2417 scientific papers published between 2000 and 2018, 741 of which we analysed in depth. To classify pollution interventions, we applied the systems-oriented concept of leverage points, which focuses on places to intervene in complex systems to bring about systemic change. We found that pollution is largely studied as a technical problem and fewer studies engage with pollution as a systemic social-ecological issue. While recognising the importance of technical solutions, we highlight the need to focus on under-researched areas pertaining to the deeper drivers of pollution (e.g. institutions, values) which are needed to fundamentally alter system trajectories.",

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note = "Funding Information: We thank Stefan Hilser and Julius Rathgens for their methodological advice. This work was supported by the prolongation of the Leverage points project funded by Volkswagenstiftung and the Nieders{\"a}chsisches Ministerium f{\"u}r Wissenschaft und Kultur (Grant Number A112269 ). AOM was funded by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to Achim Schl{\"u}ter and Anna-Katharina Hornidge. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",

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AU - Lübker, Hannah M.

AU - Manlosa, Aisa O.

AU - Sala, Juan Emilio

AU - Schaal, Tamara

AU - Weidlich, Sabine

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N2 - Despite an increasing understanding of the issue of marine pollution, humanity continues on a largely unsustainable trajectory. This study aimed to identify and classify the range of scientific studies and interventions to address coastal and marine pollution. We reviewed 2417 scientific papers published between 2000 and 2018, 741 of which we analysed in depth. To classify pollution interventions, we applied the systems-oriented concept of leverage points, which focuses on places to intervene in complex systems to bring about systemic change. We found that pollution is largely studied as a technical problem and fewer studies engage with pollution as a systemic social-ecological issue. While recognising the importance of technical solutions, we highlight the need to focus on under-researched areas pertaining to the deeper drivers of pollution (e.g. institutions, values) which are needed to fundamentally alter system trajectories.

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KW - Plastics

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KW - Sustainability transformations

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KW - Ecosystem

KW - Environmental Pollution

KW - Waste Products/analysis

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Leverage points for addressing marine and coastal pollution: A review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research areas and keywords

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Access to Document

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Projects

Leverage Points for Sustainability Transformation: Institutions, People and Knowledge

Cite this