Public preferences for marine plastic litter management across Europe

Salma Khedr, Katrin Rehdanz, Roy Brouwer, Pieter van Beukering, Hanna Dijkstra, Sem Duijndam and Ikechukwu C. Okoli

Ecological Economics, 2023, vol. 204, issue PA

Abstract: Plastic pollution is one of the most challenging problems affecting the marine environment of our time. Based on a unique dataset covering four European seas and eight European countries, this paper adds to the limited empirical evidence base related to the societal welfare effects of marine litter management. We use a discrete choice experiment to elicit public willingness-to-pay (WTP) for macro and micro plastic removal to achieve Good Environmental Status across European seas as required by the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Using a common valuation design and following best-practice guidelines, we draw comparisons between countries, seas and policy contexts. European citizens have strong preferences to improve the environmental status of the marine environment by removing and reducing both micro and macro plastic litter and implementing preventive measures favouring a pan-European approach. However, public WTP estimates differ significantly across European countries and seas. We explain why and discuss implications for policymaking.

Keywords: Choice experiment; Marine litter; Plastic litter; Macro plastic; Micro plastic; Marine strategy framework directive; Good environmental status (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:204:y:2023:i:pa:s0921800922002701

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107609

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