‘Existential threat’: How small doses of ocean plastic are killing off marine life – Euronews.com

Report on the Impact of Ocean Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Critical Threat to SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

Recent research led by Ocean Conservancy reveals that ocean plastic pollution poses an existential threat to marine biodiversity, directly undermining the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). A study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences quantifies the lethal impact of plastic ingestion on threatened marine species, demonstrating that even minimal amounts can be fatal. This report summarises the key findings and their implications for global sustainability targets.

Research Scope and Methodology

The study provides a quantitative analysis of plastic ingestion risk based on a comprehensive review of global autopsy data. The research scope included:

• Analysis of 10,412 autopsies of marine animals where cause of death and plastic ingestion were documented.
• A diverse dataset comprising 1,537 seabirds (57 species), 1,306 sea turtles (7 species), and 7,569 marine mammals (31 species).
• The primary objective was to establish lethal thresholds for plastic ingestion and identify the types of plastic posing the greatest risk to marine fauna.

Key Findings on Plastic Ingestion and Mortality

The research confirms widespread plastic ingestion among marine animals, with significant mortality rates that impede progress on protecting biodiversity as outlined in SDG 14 and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Prevalence of Plastic Ingestion

• Sea Turtles: 47% of individuals studied had ingested plastics.
• Seabirds: 33% of individuals studied had ingested plastics.
• Marine Mammals: 12% of individuals studied had ingested plastics.

Lethal Ingestion Thresholds

The study established that a 90% likelihood of death occurred after ingesting relatively small quantities of plastic:

• Seabirds (e.g., Atlantic puffins): A mass equivalent to less than three sugar cubes.
• Sea Turtles (e.g., Loggerheads): A volume equivalent to just over two baseballs.
• Marine Mammals (e.g., harbor porpoises): A volume equivalent to one football.

High-Risk Plastic Types

• For Seabirds: Rubber and hard plastics were found to be especially deadly.
• For Marine Mammals: Soft plastics and fishing gear posed the greatest risk.
• For Sea Turtles: Both soft and hard plastics were identified as major causes of mortality.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The findings present a stark challenge to the international community’s commitment to the SDGs. The plastic pollution crisis is a cross-cutting issue affecting multiple goals.

1. SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The direct, fatal impact on marine species is a severe impediment to achieving Target 14.1, which aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds by 2025. The research provides a scientific basis for the urgency required to protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): With over 11 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean annually, much of it single-use items, the findings underscore a failure to meet the objectives of SDG 12. Achieving Target 12.5, which calls for a substantial reduction in waste generation through prevention and reduction, is critical to mitigating this threat.
3. SDG 15 (Life on Land): The threat to seabirds, which inhabit both marine and terrestrial environments, highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Protecting these species from plastic-related deaths is essential for halting biodiversity loss as mandated by Target 15.5.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

The research provides a critical, science-based foundation for policymakers to understand the risk thresholds of plastic pollution on biodiversity. To make meaningful progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 and SDG 12, governments must use this evidence to establish and enforce ambitious, science-informed policy decisions. Addressing the plastic pollution crisis requires a systemic shift in production and consumption patterns, supported by international cooperation as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The article’s central theme is the “existential threat” of ocean plastics to marine life, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. It directly discusses marine pollution and its fatal impact on marine biodiversity.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article mentions that “thousands of red-listed threatened species” are affected by plastic ingestion. This includes seabirds like Atlantic puffins, which are part of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The goal of protecting threatened species and halting biodiversity loss is a core component of SDG 15.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article identifies the source of the problem, stating that the majority of the 11 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean annually are “single-use items.” This directly links the issue to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, which SDG 12 aims to address by reducing waste generation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.” The article is entirely focused on marine debris (plastics) and its devastating effects. The mention of “single-use items” and the work of Ocean Conservancy’s coastal cleanup points directly to this target of preventing and reducing marine pollution.
   • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” The research highlights the significant adverse impacts of plastic, describing it as an “existential threat to the diversity of life.” The study’s aim to provide “science-based targets to inform policy decisions” is a direct action towards better protection of marine ecosystems.
2. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article explicitly states that “thousands of red-listed threatened species are ingesting dangerous levels of plastics” and that this consumption can lead to a “90 per cent likelihood of death.” This directly addresses the need to protect threatened species from extinction.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The article’s emphasis on “single-use items” as a primary source of ocean plastic highlights the problem of excessive waste generation. The call for policy decisions based on scientific research implies a need for systemic changes in production and consumption to prevent this waste.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 14.1: An indicator is directly mentioned through the quantification of the problem. The article states, “more than 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year.” This figure serves as a baseline measurement for marine debris, aligning with Indicator 14.1.1b (Plastics debris density). The cleanup efforts removing “more than one million kilograms of rubbish” also provide data on the amount of waste in coastal areas.
• For Target 15.5: The article’s reference to “red-listed threatened species” directly relates to Indicator 15.5.1 (Red List Index). The data from the study, such as “Nearly half (47 per cent) of all sea turtles, a third of seabirds and 12 per cent of marine mammals in the dataset had plastics in their digestive tracts,” provides a specific measure of the threat level faced by these species, which can be used to track their conservation status.
• For Target 12.5: While a formal indicator is not explicitly named, the article implies one by highlighting that the “majority” of ocean plastic comes from “single-use items.” The prevalence and volume of single-use plastic waste can serve as an indirect indicator of national waste generation and recycling rates, relevant to Indicator 12.5.1 (National recycling rate, tons of material recycled).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: euronews.com