The effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems

This paper is a summary report prepared by WWF that stated how the plastic pollution is affecting the global ocean, the impacts are on marine species and ecosystems, and how these trends are likely to develop in future. The paper explains a serious and rapidly deterioration condition that needs instant and intensive international action. 1) Common definitions, methods, standards and regulations for an effective and organized global effort to combat plastic pollution throughout the plastic life cycle, including specific circularity requirements and prohibitions for certain plastic products that pose elevated risks to the environment. such as some single-use plastic products or intentionally added microplastics. 2) A clearly formulated vision to eliminate the direct and indirect entry of plastics into nature, based on the precautionary principle and the recognition of the devastating impacts of plastic pollution. 3) Several key global regions–including areas in the Mediterranean, the East China and Yellow Seas and Arctic sea ice–have already exceeded plastic pollution thresholds beyond which significant ecological risks can occur, and several more regions are expected to follow suit in the coming years.