Oceans cover a third of the Earth — they connect, sustain, and support humanity. Yet, ocean health is at a tipping point and so all that depends on it. The United Nations observes World Oceans Day on June 8 every year to shed light on the ideas and solutions that can protect and revitalise the oceans and everything they sustain.
The theme for World Oceans Day, 2022, is Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.
PLASTIC POLLUTION
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a paper on the most effective policy interventions to lower single-use plastic waste. The working paper — From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution — advocates urgent action to lower plastic emissions. Plastics make up at least 85% of marine litter — the largest and most harmful component.
According to the report, published in October 2021, plastic waste emissions into marine ecosystems have gone up sharply in recent years. The report predicts that plastic waste emissions into aquatic ecosystems would almost triple by 2040.
The oceans receive most plastic trash from land. It is estimated that more than 14 million tonne plastic enters the ocean each year. The majority of river-borne plastic enters the ocean from just 10 rivers — eight of these are in Asia. The Yangtze in China contributes 1.5 million metric tonnes of plastic a year.
Much of the plastic trash remains in the ocean upon reaching there. Ocean currents then transport the plastic trash all over the globe. Plastic waste breaks down into smaller particles when exposed to sunlight, wave, and wind action in the seas. Often, these particles are smaller than one-fifth an inch. These microplastics are found throughout the water column.
PLASTIC POLLUTION IN INDIA
Environmental pollution caused by plastic is among the most pressing concerns. India’s per-capita generation of plastic waste has almost doubled in the past five years — generating about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. The effects of plastic on the ecosystem are also linked to high air pollution in India.
HUMAN TOLL
Plastic debris causes severe injuries or death to marine species if entangled or ingested. Plastic pollution also poses a threat to human health, food safety, coastal tourism, and causes climate change.
Plastic kills millions of animals — fish, birds, and other marine organisms — each year. It has affected over 700 species, including endangered species. Seabirds also consume large amounts of plastic.
A recent study also found microplastics in human blood. The scientists conducting the study found the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested.
THREAT TO WATER BODIES
Plastic waste also has negative effects on water bodies, which are being choked. A study published in April found that roughly 1,000 rivers account for 80% of the plastic waste flowing into the oceans.
Several of the largest rivers — the Indus, Ganges, and the Brahmaputra — had been identified as the most prolific plastic waste carriers. The new study, however, offers a more nuanced view. It found that smaller rivers had a tendency to carry more plastic than larger rivers in heavily populated areas.
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