Emma joined IEEP in May 2007. She has a degree in European Studies and French and spent nine months of her studies as an intern with a UK MEP in Brussels. After graduating she lived in Brussels for six years, firstly undertaking an internship in the Secretariat-General of the European Commission. She then worked for the Brussels representations of two UK regions (the East of England and London) on EU environment, transport, and energy policy, as well as coordinating their communications work. Emma works on waste, sustainable consumption and production, resource efficiency, marine litter and environmental taxation issues. She also edits the quarterly IEEP newsletter.
Researchers Emma Watkins, Patrick ten Brink, Sirini Withana, Marianne Kettunen, Daniela Russi, Konar Mutafoglu, Jean-Pierre Schweitzer, and Giulia Gitti contributed to a chapter on the socio-economic impact of marine litter, the cost of policy inaction and action for the United Nations Environment Programme.
There is a growing recognition of the need to address marine litter and rethink our approach to plastics and plastic packaging within the economy. Measures that enable a transition to a circular economy can avoid waste and reduce marine litter, and contribute to keeping plastics and their value in the economy.
IEEP contributed to a major international report leading to a UN Environment Assembly Resolution calling for global action on marine plastic litter and microplastics.
The transition to a circular economy is a priority for Europe and an opportunity for many businesses. There is need for scrutiny amongst policy makers to ensure that ecological and socio-economic objectives are met.
IEEP identifies how the EU Plastics Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan provide a unique opportunity to address marine litter and its impacts.