Legal Framework for Strengthening Environmental Security for Sustainable Marine Ecosystem and Public Health

Abstract

Plastic degeneration has become an issue of environmental security threatening sustainability of marine life and human health by spoiling the food chains and water sources. The current legal framework with treaties and laws fails to control the increasing plastic waste crisis due to poor enforcement of the laws and the complexity of the laws. This paper compares the international, regional, and domestic legal systems with the aim of determining loopholes in tackling the oceanic plastic pollution coupled with associating environmental security with the safety of populations. It claims that vertically integrated legal reforms are needed to adopt sustainable waste management and extended producer responsibility as steps toward a circular economy. This paper seeks to influence environmental security, and protect marine life, as well as public health, now and in the future through such recommendations as proposing legal action in such areas and offer guidelines on the policies that can be undertaken in the future.