Plastics generated in 2019 – that’s 3.4 per cent of the world’s total emissions, a number that is set to grow considerably as the production of plastics is expected to .
The rise in plastic pollution is not only extremely harmful to the planet’s biodiversity but also contributes to climate change. Some today is made of petrochemicals – components derived from oil and gas. The extraction and transport of those fossil fuels, and the manufacturing and disposal of plastics, all create carbon emissions that are responsible for global warming.
To limit climate change, the world needs to .
Oil is increasingly replaced by renewable energy in the power sector, and the use of oil in road transport and electricity generation is dropping significantly. But the booming production of plastics and other products made from oil and gas is keeping the demand for oil high, with petrochemicals expected to account for to 2030, and nearly half the growth to 2050.
What is the UN doing to end plastic pollution?
In 2022, the 193 United Nations Member States agreed to develop an international legally binding agreement, by 2024, to end plastic pollution – tackling the full life cycle of plastics, from production to use and waste management.
On top of contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions, plastics also damage soil, poison groundwater and harm living creatures. Plastic waste – whether in a river, the ocean, or on land – can persist in the environment .
According to the OECD, about , much of it in the ocean, harming marine life. Through food, water and packaging, microplastics also end up in our bodies – in our lungs, livers, spleens and kidneys.
of all plastic waste comes from single-use and short-lived plastic products. Of the total seven billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally to date, less than has been recycled.
For these reasons and more, an to end Plastic Pollution was established to develop an international legally binding instrument. Negotiations are going into the final round in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024.
“We know what this instrument must cover,” , Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. “Criteria for plastic products, including exiting identified unnecessary single-use and short-lived products. Design and performance for circularity. Managing end of life of plastic, including legacy plastics.”
What can you do?
There are things you as an individual can do:
- Speak up about plastic pollution:
- If you see a company using single-use plastic products – such as single-use plastic films to cover fruit at a grocery store – bring this to the attention of store management or point it out on social media.
- Shop smart:
- Reuse items instead of buying new products, shop second-hand and repair what you can.
- Choose products sold in reusable packaging wherever available.
- Innovate:
- If you are a product designer, think about the full lifecycle of plastics in your design.>
- Take action in your community:
- Resell or donate goods that are still usable to keep them out of landfill.
- Take part in local litter clean-ups and organize these efforts if none exist in your community.
- Petition your government:
- Encourage your political representatives to support a transition to an economy in which we eliminate single-use and short-lived plastics products.
- Educate yourself and others:
- Learn about the effects of plastic pollution and how they can be countered, and share what you have learned with those around you.
For more ideas on how you can contribute to a cleaner, healthier world, check out the ActNow campaign.
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