The world is facing a triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss \u2014 a trifecta of injustice. While these crises have different dimensions that often overlap, one thing is common in them all \u2014 plastic.<\/p>\n\n
We know that plastic pollutes from production to its disposal, and global production of plastics\u00a0doubled from the year 2000 to 2019<\/a>, reaching 460 million tonnes. If nothing is done, plastic production is projected to triple by the year 2050.<\/p>\n\n You may ask, \u201cWhat does plastic production have to do with the triple planetary crisis? How does it concern me?\u201d Join me in understanding the relationship between plastic and the triple planetary crisis, its impact on us, and ways we can pressure decision-makers to take action.<\/p>\n\n Climate change, the long-term shifts in weather patterns and temperatures, has been one of the most pressing global environmental crises of the century. The climate crisis contributes greatly to frequent extreme weather events across the world \u2014 such as the\u00a0widespread floods across Africa<\/a>\u00a0in recent months. The UN says that the\u00a0climate crisis disproportionately impacts Global South countries<\/a>\u00a0because we do not have the same resourcing as wealthier countries to respond to climate impacts. This, despite the fact that we contribute the least to the climate crisis. We have a lot more to lose in this crisis, and plastic is making the crisis worse.<\/p>\n\n Approximately 99% of plastic begins as a fossil fuel<\/a>, and carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted at each stage throughout plastic\u2019s life cycle. At the extraction stage, drilling of oil and gas releases harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through the process of burning gases called flaring.<\/p>\n\n When plastic products are being manufactured a lot of energy is needed and fossil fuels are used in this process, emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. At the last stage of the cycle, disposed plastic waste ends up either being incinerated or in landfill, rivers, oceans and soil, breaking down into microplastics and emitting greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates that plastic\u2019s life cycle contributes to approximately\u00a03.4% (2019)<\/a>\u00a0of total carbon emissions. According to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the cumulation of greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could cover 10-13% percent of the\u00a0remaining carbon budget<\/a>\u00a0by the year 2050.<\/p>\n\nPlastics and the climate crisis<\/h2>\n\n