An outline of Discussion Paper II in the One Ocean series

Global heating is pushing ocean temperatures to new heights, fuelling more frequent and intense
storms, rising sea levels, and the salinization of coastal lands and aquifers. Untreated sewerage and
wastewater containing toxic chemicals and millions of tons of plastic waste are flooding into coastal
ecosystems, killing, or injuring fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, and making their
way into the food chain and ultimately being consumed by humans. More than 17 million metric tons
of plastic entered the world’s ocean in 2021, making up 85 per cent of marine litter, and projections
are expected to double or triple each year by 2040, according to the latest Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) report. According to UN estimates, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than
fish unless action is taken.

Keywords: Climate change, pollution, carbon capture, oceanic biosphere, continental linkages, sewage, plastics

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