Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution is a major contributor to climate change. Mismanaged plastic waste releases methane and ethylene as it breaks down, with methane being at least 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20-year period. The global warming potential of black carbon is up to 5,000 times greater than that of CO2. The OECD estimates that the life-cycle emissions of plastics, including production and disposal, were 1.8 billion tonnes. Of this, 11% of plastic emissions occur during the disposal processes, with the majority of plastic waste simply being dumped. This mismanagement has resulted in more than 22 million tonnes of plastic entering all major ocean basins, beaches, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial environments, including the Arctic and Antarctic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic mismanaged each year | 78 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic waste produced each year | 353 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic waste recycled | 9% |
| Amount of plastic waste mismanaged in South Asia each year | 18 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic waste that has filtered into major ocean basins, beaches, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial environments | 22 million tonnes |
| Amount of global emissions from plastic waste | 1.8 billion tonnes |
| Amount of global emissions from plastic waste as a percentage of total emissions | 3.3% |
| Global warming potential of black carbon compared to carbon dioxide | 5,000 times greater |
| How much worse for the climate methane is compared to CO2 over a 20-year period | 84 times worse |
What You'll Learn
- The production of plastic contributes to 3.3% of global emissions
- Mismanaged plastic waste emits methane and ethylene when exposed to sunlight
- Plastic waste is often dumped, ending up in oceans, beaches, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial environments
- Plastic waste can harm and kill animals, plants, and humans
- Recycling plastic could significantly reduce its impact on the environment and climate change
The production of plastic contributes to 3.3% of global emissions
When plastic waste is not recycled or disposed of in a controlled manner, it generates greenhouse gas emissions when exposed to solar radiation in the air and water. This mismanagement of plastic waste has severe consequences for the climate, as well as for livelihoods and ecosystems. For example, around 18 million tons of plastics from South Asia are mismanaged and end up in the ocean, where they emit methane and ethylene due to exposure to sunlight. Polyethylene, the most produced and discarded synthetic polymer globally, is the highest emitter of these gases.
The impacts of plastic waste on the climate are significant, with 78 million tonnes of plastic being mismanaged each year and ending up in our oceans and landscapes. This figure has doubled since 2000, and only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled. The breakdown of plastic releases methane and ethylene, with methane being at least 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20-year period. This has irreversible effects on the surrounding soil and organisms, causing death and mutations in animals that drink from local water sources.
To reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and its contribution to climate change, it is crucial to improve waste management practices and increase recycling rates.
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Mismanaged plastic waste emits methane and ethylene when exposed to sunlight
The impact of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate is an urgent issue. Globally, 78 million tonnes of plastic is mismanaged each year, with only 9% of plastic waste being recycled. This plastic waste ends up littering landscapes and oceans, harming animals, plants, and humans. The OECD estimates that the life-cycle emissions of plastics, including production and disposal, were 1.8 billion tonnes. This accounts for around 3.3% of global emissions.
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Plastic waste is often dumped, ending up in oceans, beaches, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial environments
The seven most frequently used plastics release methane and ethylene as they break down, and methane is at least 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20-year period. The surrounding soil and organisms can suffer irreversible effects as a result, with animals in the area dying or being mutated because they drank from local water sources.
The life-cycle emissions of plastics, which includes the production of the material and its disposal, were estimated by the OECD to be 1.8 billion tonnes. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, which account for the different warming impacts of different greenhouse gases. Most of these emissions come from the production stage, in the form of carbon dioxide. Since the world emits around 54.6 billion tonnes of CO2eq, plastics were responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions.
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Plastic waste can harm and kill animals, plants, and humans
When exposed to solar radiation in the air and water, plastic waste generates greenhouse gas emissions. Mismanaged plastic waste emits methane and ethylene due to exposure to sunlight. Methane is at least 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20 years period. The surrounding soil and organisms can suffer irreversible effects as a result, with animals in the area either dying or being mutated simply because they drank from local water sources.
The impacts of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate, as well as on livelihoods and ecosystems, are an urgent concern. The global warming potential of black carbon is up to 5,000 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
The life-cycle emissions of plastics, which includes the production of the material and its disposal, was estimated at 1.8 billion tonnes. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, which accounts for the different warming impacts of different greenhouse gases. Most of these emissions come from the production stage and are in the form of carbon dioxide. Plastics were responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions.
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Recycling plastic could significantly reduce its impact on the environment and climate change
Plastic waste that is not recycled or disposed of in a controlled manner generates greenhouse gas emissions when exposed to solar radiation in the air and water. The seven most frequently used plastics release methane and ethylene as they break down, and methane is at least 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20-year period. Polyethylene, the most produced and discarded synthetic polymer globally, is the highest emitter of these gases.
Around 18 million tons of plastics originating from South Asia are mismanaged and, consequently, are washed into the ocean, where they emit methane and ethylene due to exposure to sunlight. Globally, we produce 353 million tons of plastic waste per year, and only 9% of it is recycled. This mismanagement has resulted in more than 22 million tons of plastic filtering into all major ocean basins, beaches, lakes, rivers, and terrestrial environments, including the Arctic and Antarctic.
The impacts of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate, as well as on livelihoods and ecosystems, are urgent. If we don’t remove this trash and dispose of it properly, it will continue to harm and kill animals, plants, and humans. The surrounding soil and organisms can suffer irreversible effects, with animals in the area either dying or being mutated simply because they drank from local water sources.
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Frequently asked questions
78 million tonnes of plastic is mismanaged each year, with 18 million tonnes of this originating from South Asia.
When exposed to solar radiation, mismanaged plastic waste generates GHG emissions, releasing methane and ethylene into the ocean. Methane is 84 times worse for the climate than CO2 over a 20-year period.
The life-cycle emissions of plastics, including production and disposal, were estimated to be 1.8 billion tonnes. This accounts for around 3.3% of global emissions.
