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Marine plastic pollution

Year of Publication

2021

This article highlights the current global plastic pollution scenario, its impact on human health, oceans, and climate and strategies to mitigate the issue.

Source:

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Author(s):

Geography:

Global

Type:

Primary Data, Strategy

Purpose of Measurement:

Understanding the Problem, Solution Sets and Impact Potential

Impact theme(s):

Climate, Oceans, Policy, Behavior Change, Material Flows

This article highlights the current global plastic pollution scenario, its impact on human health, oceans, and climate and strategies to mitigate the issue. Specifically, it highlights that plastic debris is currently the most abundant type of litter in the ocean, making up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. This impacts the marine environment. It threatens ocean health, the health of marine species, food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change. Lastly, the article mentions that it will require solutions which go beyond waste management and consider the whole lifecycle of plastic products, from design to infrastructure, and household use.

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