Climate change affects nearly every aspect of life, whether it’s the air, water, or ground. To raise awareness and push for change, advocates are leveraging social media to reach an international audience.

Pollution of the air and ground have major impacts on humans, while water pollution has widespread climate, health and economic implications. Nearly half of pollution in oceans comes from sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial dumping, chemical spills and other land sources. In some areas, agricultural runoff from pesticides and fertilizers depletes the ocean of oxygen. These so-called dead zones make it difficult for marine animals to survive. According to an article published in Science, zero oxygen dead zones have quadrupled since 1950. Nearly a third of ocean pollution comes from airborne sources. These pollutants including sulfur dioxide, mercury and lead largely come from point sources such as coal-burning power plants.

Single-use plastics is another source of water pollution. In the ocean, plastics can entrap wildlife. Fish and other sea life can ingest smaller pieces of plastic, called microplastics, that can then enter the human food chain.

An organization leveraging the Internet to combat this issue, Plastic Oceans International, creates film and other digital content to help the public rethink the use of plastics in everyday life. The organization has created a documentary and holds education programs across North America and Europe. Plastic Oceans International also strives through digital media to empower youth to have an impact on the environment.

A pair of YouTube personalities are using their platform and following to remove plastics from the ocean. Jimmy Donaldson and Mark Rober have started a clean-up project called #TeamSeas. The goal of #TeamSeas is to remove 30 million pounds of trash from the oceans by January 1, 2022. As of December 2021, more than 17.5 million pounds of plastics have been removed. Although their goal may still seem distant, Donaldson and Rober have had a profound impact by using their online following.

Plastic is only part of the issue. The most notable and widespread impact of pollution on oceans is ocean acidification. The oceans are among earth’s largest carbon sinks, reservoirs that store carbon. As oceans absorb increasing amounts of CO2, they become more acidic. Acidified water threatens marine species with major impacts on indicator species, such as coral reefs and plankton.

Climate change and ocean pollution threaten human health as well. Toxic chemicals dumped into oceans can contaminate water supplies and the food chain by affecting aquatic life. Humans risk exposure through consuming contaminated food, swimming in polluted waterways, or drinking tainted water. Chemical pollution can disrupt human hormonal, reproductive and nervous systems, and in some cases, lead to cancer.

“Chemicals that pollute water are especially dangerous because of the human health impacts,” said Nagu Keshava, a genetic toxicologist at the Environmental Protection Agency. “Environmental contaminants in water can bioaccumulate and can have snowballing effects over time.”

In the United States, governmental organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published a lot of media about the connections between climate change, water pollution and human health. Flyers and graphics on websites and social media platforms inform people about the importance of avoiding contaminated water sources.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has published a report that documents how the impact of the climate on the economy and ecosystems leads to food scarcity. The IPCC has pushed its findings onto social media to show the scientific research behind these findings.

Social media platforms can inform the public and help initiate movements to combat the impacts of water pollution and threats posed by climate change.