this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2025
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[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

fight climate change

What does ocean plastic have to do with climate change? Am I missing something?

[–] 9blb@feddit.org 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Apparently it does:

Marine organisms, such as plankton, fish, and larger mammals, are integral to the ocean’s carbon cycle. These organisms help sequester CO2 through a process known as the biological carbon pump, where CO2 absorbed during photosynthesis is transported to deeper waters when these organisms die and sink. However, when these organisms ingest microplastics, their ability to perform this function is compromised, reducing the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO2.

Moreover, plastics can alter the chemical composition of seawater, increasing its acidity and affecting marine ecosystems like coral reefs and shellfish, which are crucial for carbon sequestration. As these ecosystems degrade, the ocean’s ability to mitigate climate change diminishes.

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