More Plastic Damage

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released new data showing that plastic emissions are growing at a rate that could make them a large percentage of Earth’s carbon budget. Plastics are made using fossil fuels. The researchers looked at the production techniques of many common plastics to come to their conclusions. Neil Tangri, science and policy director at the environmental justice group Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, commented to The Guardian, “This report provides negotiators with the strongest scientific evidence to date on the need to stop and reverse the expansion of plastic production.”

Climatecrisis247 believes the global plastics market generates over $625 billion in revenue annually. Most of this is done by corporations, some of which have plastic production businesses essential to their profits and viability. Not unlike fossil fuel companies, it will be very difficult to get these to sacrifice money for environmental concerns.

This is the second major way that plastic damages the environment. Found in almost all drinking water in the developed world, in oceans, and in rivers, scientists are still working on the extent of the damage to public health. According to NOAA, “Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but those that are less than five millimeters in length (or about the size of a pencil eraser) are called “microplastics.”