Climate Facts: 11m tonnes of plastic waste flow into oceans annually

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these climate concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), exposure to plastics can harm human health, potentially affecting fertility, hormonal, metabolic and neurological activity.
• UNEP says more than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement and other dangers.
• Some 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow annually into oceans. This may triple by 2040, the organisation said.
• According to the United Nations, oceans absorb about 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.
• The ocean has also absorbed more than 90 percent of the excess heat in the climate system, according to the UN.