When we think of plastic pollution, we see bottles floating in rivers and marine animals wrapped in six pack rings. Few of us will connect single-use plastic waste to climate change but a report by the Center for International Environmental Law says that the production and disposal of single-use plastics in 2019 caused the equivalent emissions of 189 coal plants, and by 2030 that number could rise to 295. “At present rates, these greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle threaten the ability of the global community to meet carbon emissions targets,” the report said.
Straws seem a small part of the equation, but if each person in Asia were to use a plastic straw on a given day, it would mean 4.5 billion straws making their way into the waste system. Companies developing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics or raising awareness on how to avoid one-time plastics can help tackle climate change.
“Single-use plastics are problematic for the environment and the climate alike, and it is part because of poor waste management systems but irresponsible individual behaviour also plays an enormous role,”
- said Claudia Giacovelli, of the UN Environment Programme’s International Environment Technology Centre in Osaka, Japan.
“Promoting eco-friendly alternatives, improving waste management and increasing social awareness are just some of the actions we propose to sustainably manage single-use plastic waste.”
You can read the full story from Here. (https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/every-straw-counts-fight-against-climate-change)
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