Protecting Our Oceans

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues we are currently facing. It affects the marine environment in multiple ways, from harming ocean health and biodiversity, to compromising food security and human health, to exacerbating climate change. Here are some statistics related to plastic pollution:

- Every year, about 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean, making up 80% of all marine debris.

- If this trend continues, plastic could outnumber fish by weight in the ocean by 2050.

- As of 2021, there are at least 363,762,732,605 pounds of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.

- In the last ten years, we have produced more plastic products than in the previous century.

- The world generates 400 million tonnes of plastic waste a year.

- The US produces 42 million metric tons of plastic every year, the highest in the world.

Marine animals and ecosystems suffer greatly from plastic pollution. Plastic debris can cause physical injuries, infections, entanglements and suffocations to marine animals that encounter or ingest them. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Marine species ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. Plastic also poses a threat to human health and food safety. Plastic can absorb and transfer harmful chemicals and toxins from the water to the organisms that eat them. These chemicals can accumulate in the tissues of fish and shellfish and enter the human food chain.

Plastic pollution is also a climate problem. Plastics are produced from fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases throughout their life cycle, from extraction to disposal. In 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from plastics were 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent; by 2050, they’re projected to increase to approximately 6.5 gigatonnes. That number represents 15 per cent of the whole global carbon budget - the​​ amount of greenhouse gas that can be emitted, while still keeping warming within the Paris Agreement goals. Plastic also affects the ability of marine ecosystems to sequester carbon and regulate the climate. For example, plastic debris can damage coral reefs, which are home to a quarter of all marine life and store more carbon per unit area than any other marine ecosystem.

How can we solve this global crisis? There are many solutions available, but they require urgent and collective action from all stakeholders. Recycling alone is not enough. Recycling rates are low and recycling processes are often inefficient and polluting. Moreover, recycling does not address the root cause of the problem: the overproduction and overconsumption of plastic. We need to reduce our reliance on plastic and shift towards more sustainable alternatives. We need to improve waste management systems and prevent plastic from reaching the ocean in the first place. We need to invest in innovation and research to find new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic. We need to raise awareness and educate consumers about the impacts of plastic pollution and how to avoid it. We need to support policies and regulations that promote a circular economy and hold producers accountable for their plastic waste. We need to collaborate across sectors and borders to find collective solutions to this global challenge.

Protecting our oceans from plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a social and economic one. It is essential for our health, our livelihoods and our future. We all have a role to play in this battle and we all have a responsibility to act now.

**In conclusion**, plastic pollution is a serious threat to our oceans and our planet. It has multiple negative impacts on marine life, human health, food security and climate change. To tackle this problem, we need to reduce our plastic consumption and production, improve our waste management systems, invest in innovation and research, raise awareness and education, support policies and regulations, and collaborate with each other. By doing so, we can protect our oceans from plastic pollution and ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.