UN Warns Sea-Level Rise Rate Doubled in 10 Years as 52.1 Million Tonnes of Plastic Enter Oceans
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 8
UN Warns Sea-Level Rise Rate Doubled in 10 Years as 52.1 Million Tonnes of Plastic Enter Oceans
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 8
Summary
Nearly 600 scientists from 86 countries found the oceans under “severe and accelerating” stress in the UN’s 2021-25 assessment, with sea-level rise now running at twice the rate of a decade ago.
Human pressures including pollution and large-scale industrial fishing are compounding biodiversity loss, while the ocean has already absorbed 90% of excess heat and 30% of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions.
The report estimates 52.1 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, adding to 24.4 trillion microplastic particles that affect more than 4,000 marine species.
A high seas treaty that took effect this year and 56 other agreements have strengthened protection tools, but the UN said ocean governance remains fragmented and needs tighter coordination.
With more than a third of people living within 100 km of coasts and 11% on land below 10 metres elevation, the UN and Greenpeace urged faster action toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.