Factsheet: Economic Benefits of Phasing Out Plastic
- Policy -
Contrary to the plastic industry’s claims about their contribution to the global economy, plastic has high environmental, social, and health costs and brings limited economic benefits. Plastic reduction, in fact, offers greater economic opportunities through the creation of new, local businesses and reduction in public spending on pollution management.
Reducción de la producciónde plásticos: El imperativo climático
- Plástico -
Antes de la cuarta ronda de negociaciones de las Naciones Unidas para un tratado global sobre plásticos que se llevará a cabo del 23 al 29 de abril en Ottawa, el Laboratorio Nacional Lawrence Berkeley (LBNL) publicó un estudio pionero que revela el enorme impacto climático de la producción de plástico. La Alianza Global para Alternativas a la Incineración (GAIA) ha preparado un informe de políticas que muestra cuán rápido el mundo debe reducir la producción de plástico para evitar un calentamiento catastrófico. Las conclusiones del informe refuerzan la importancia de que el tratado de plásticos cubra todo el ciclo de vida del plástico, desde la extracción hasta la eliminación, tal como se consagra en el acuerdo entre 175 países -la Resolución 5/14 de la UNEA-, que constituye la base de las conversaciones en relación con el tratado.
Principales conclusiones:
El impacto de los plásticos en el clima comienza con la fase de extracción. El 75% de todas las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero procedentes de la producción de plásticos primarios se producen antes de la etapa de polimerización. Con vistas a comprender, medir, evaluar y abordar en forma cabal el impacto de la contaminación por plásticos, la evaluación y los controles regulatorios deben considerar el ciclo de vida completo, que comienza con la extracción.
El incremento en la producción de plástico por sí solo arruinará Dlos objetivos climáticos internacionales. Incluso si todas las demás fuentes de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (transporte, electricidad, agricultura, industria pesada, etc.) se descarbonizaran milagrosa y completamente en 2024, con las tasas de crecimiento actuales, la producción de plásticos primarios por sí sola consumiría por completo el presupuesto mundial de carbono para el año 2060 y, a más tardar, para 2083.
Se requieren recortes profundos y rápidos en la producción de plástico conforme lo establecido en el Acuerdo de París. Para evitar superar el límite de 1,5°C establecido en el Acuerdo de París, a partir de 2024, la producción de plásticos primarios debe disminuirse entre al menos 12% y 17% por año.
Related Resources
Plastic Production Reduction: The Climate Imperative
- Climate -
In advance of the fourth round of United Nations negotiations for an international plastics treaty in Ottawa April 23-29, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has released a groundbreaking study revealing the enormous climate impact of plastic production.
In response to the report, Dr. Neil Tangri, Science and Policy Director at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Dr. Jorge Emmanuel of Siliman University, Philippines, and Dr. Sam Adu-Kumi, former Director of the Chemicals Control and Management Centre of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana, have penned a policy brief contextualizing LBNL’s findings within the Paris Climate Agreement and global carbon budget, and how this research strengthens the mandate for a strong plastics treaty that dramatically cuts plastic production.
Key Takeaways:
Plastics’ impact on the climate starts with extraction. To fully capture, measure, evaluate and address the impacts of plastic pollution, assessment and regulatory controls must consider the complete lifecycle, beginning with extraction.
Growth in plastic production alone will doom international climate goals. Even if every other source of greenhouse gas emissions – transportation, electricity, agriculture, heavy industry, etc. – were to miraculously and completely decarbonize in 2024, at current growth rates, primary plastic production alone would completely consume the global carbon budget as early as 2060 and no later than 2083.
Deep, rapid cuts in plastic production are required by the Paris Agreement. To avoid breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement, primary plastic production must decrease by at least 12% to 17% per year, starting in 2024.
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