Data from Future scenarios for river exports of multiple pollutants by sources and sub-basins worldwide: rising pollution for the Indian Ocean

Diffuse sources such as fertilizers are largely responsible for increasing nutrient pollution in the two scenarios. Point sources namely sewage systems are largely responsible for increasing microplastic pollution in the ED scenario. In both scenarios, the Indian Ocean will receive up to 400% more pollutants from rivers by 2100 because of growing population, urbanization, and poor waste management in the African and Asian basins.

The situation is different for the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean (mainly less future pollution) and the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean (more or less future pollution depending on sub-basin and scenario). Globally, 56-78% of people are expected to live in more polluted river basins in the future, challenging sustainable development goals for clean waters. Project funded by: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, inventWater — Grant Agreement No. 956623