The Plastic Pirates Summit took place on 5 and 6 November in Brussels. Plastic Pirates and stakeholders from all over Europe came together to discuss, network and exchange. Please find all impressions and photos (Copyright for all photos: DLR/Leon Jakobs Photography) here.
01 On stage
On 5 and 6 November 2024, approximately 120 representatives from science, politics, and education convened in Brussels to celebrate the achievements of the Plastic Pirates initiative. The attendees commended the project for its dual impact - raising environmental awareness among young participants while contributing valuable data on plastic pollution across Europe - and expressed strong support for continuing the initiative. Political decision-makers as well as experts highlighted the significant contribution of “Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!” to the Europeanization of citizen science projects and tackling fight against plastic pollution. Speakers emphasized how the initiative empowers young people to actively engage in science and environmental protection, praising it as a model that seamlessly integrates education, research, and civic engagement.
Researchers from participating countries underscored how this citizen science initiative generates extensive, high-quality data that can inform policy measures and contribute to EU objectives, such as reducing marine litter by 50% by 2030. A representative from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stressed the global significance of initiatives like Plastic Pirates and praised it as a model for linking local data collection with global solutions. The conference concluded with a strong call to action: to secure long-term funding, further integrate the initiative into educational curricula and policymaking, and foster enhanced collaboration across all levels. The Plastic Pirates initiative was celebrated as a role model of environmental awareness, youth empowerment, and civic engagement, inspiring a shared commitment to combating plastic pollution.
Welcome
Welcome Remarks by Kestutis Sadauskas
Welcome remarks by John Bell
Welcome remarks by Armin Reinartz
Moderator Katrina Sichel
Ambassadors from Romania and Estonia
Panel Discussions
Panel Discussions
Questions from the audience
Pitch by Ana Catarino
Panel Discussions
Panel Discussions
Pitch by Janto Schönberg
Panel Discussions
Panel Discussions
Questions from the audience
Panel Discussions
Interview
02 Poster exhibition and networking
Young participants shared their experiences, describing how their involvement in the project revealed the scale of plastic pollution and motivated them to adopt more sustainable behaviors. Through poster presentations, youth from across Europe provided insights into the initiative's implementation in their countries and its accomplishments to date.
03 Workshops
The second day of the conference featured three workshops focusing on key themes:
- Blue Citizenship: Participants discussed the conditions needed to foster civic engagement in protecting the oceans.
- Data Quality and Management: This workshop explored improving data validation and leveraging technologies like AI to enhance efficiency and reach.
- Scaling Citizen Science Projects: The discussions concluded that successfully scaling such projects requires a balance between geographic expansion, local engagement, and the development of sustainable participation models.
