Imagine diving into the crystal-clear waters offshore of Miami, only to find yourself surrounded by a scene of devastation. A moonscape. The water, once teeming with life, is clouded with sediment, and vibrant coral reefs are now buried beneath a layer of sand. This is the grim reality made manifest by the PortMiami dredging project that occurred from 2013 to 2015. The project resulted in catastrophic damage to adjacent coral reefs, triggering legal action by Miami Waterkeeper and co-plaintiffs. Despite the dredging company’s initial attempts to downplay the environmental impact, subsequent scientific research uncovered extensive coral mortality, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has now released a report that supports our finding that millions of corals were likely killed and at least 278 acres of the Florida Reef Tract were severely impacted.
The plastics crisis is a truly global issue, and its causes and consequences must be addressed comprehensively and consistently—Breathe This Air focuses on the environmental justice aspects of this treaty. The private sector has been slow and unwilling to take meaningful action to address the crisis, and so we need national governments to work together to enact meaningful, global regulations and commitments to address this catastrophe.
Film by Peak Plastic Foundation
