Citation
Griffin, H. and Chiba, S. (2020). Sailing towards a plastic-free ocean - action on SDG 14 to increase understanding of ocean debris. In: S. Nicklin, B. Cornwell and L. Trowbridge, eds., A Better World Volume 6. Human Development Forum, pp.52–55. https://doi.org/10.34892/731k-s676
Marine plastic pollution is considered one of the
most serious global environmental challenges,
impacting marine life in every corner of the ocean.
From surface waters to the deepest ocean trenches, and
from polar extremes to tropical coral reefs, it is estimated
that 45 million tonnes of plastic is currently circulating in
the ocean. The estimated economic cost of marine ecosystem
services lost due to marine plastic pollution reaches
over US$ 1 trillion every year.