Kyushu University researchers have set the figure at 8 million tonnes per year — this result suggests a global limit on annual marine plastic pollution. To prevent further damage to our oceans a 32% drop in plastic usage is critical by 2035.
Mapping the Plastic Plague
The previous post is focused on the efforts by researchers from Kyushu University in keep track of plastic pollution in the ocean. Their most recent study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, opened the can to jiggle out another surprise.
From their research, approximately 25.3 M metric tons of plastic waste has entered our oceans, with nearly two-thirds not being trackable. Thats a huge number, and point to the size of the problem we face.
Plastics disappear Researchers then used computer models to follow the spread and disintegration of plastics over time, painting a picture of how plastic garbage flows and where it ultimately ends up. This data can help us create a game plan against this problem.
A Race Against Time
The scientists zero in on an important benchmark for international strategies to curb the global marine plastic crisis. If we do not want our oceans to become the largest garbage dump on earth… By 2035, plastic littering needs to be reduced by 32 percent.
It would reduce this volume — an amount equivalent to 8.1 million tons of plastic — by over 50% in the oceans by 2050. In the scenarios, plastic waste could be cut by up to 63% in highly impacted areas such as the Yellow and East China Seas.
Officially introduced during the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit, The “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” targets to achieve a reduction period of marine plastic litter on the globe by no later than 2050. The discovery of the Kyushu University researchers provides a potent and practical target that should enable governments and businesses to keep focus on their ultimate goal.
Conclusion
The time bomb is on to prevent our oceans from drowning in plastic. While the researchers have set a realistic goal, it will require aggressive action from governments, companies and individuals to achieve it. Reusing will mitigate the amount of plastic going into waste and increase awareness so, we can combat this environmental crisis and protect the ocean health for generations.
