The Impact of Single-Use Plastics on the Ocean
Posted On June 23, 2019
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0 Plastic pollution and global warming are two of the most pressing environmental problems facing animals and marine life. Read on as we break down all the numbers...
The United Nations Environment Programme estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contained 46,000 pieces of floating plastic
50% of plastic
products are used just
once and thrown away
Approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. More than 1,000,000 plastic bags are used every minute
Mean sea surface temperatures have risen by about 0.7 degrees Celsius over the past 100 years
Sea surface temperatures are likely to increase by over 3 degrees Celsius in some ocean regions by 2100
of the world’s major marine
ecosystems have been
significantly degraded or
are unsustainably used
Around 90% of the energy
from warming of the Earth
system has been stored in
the ocean over recent decades
By 2100 the world’s oceans are likely to be 150% more acidic
Plastic debris causes the deaths
of more than 1,000,000
seabirds and
100,000
marine
mammals
every
year
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 4/2016, Volume 143) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.