The debate around plastic pollution’s impact on global warming has been ongoing for several years, and many people are beginning to pay attention to the potential consequences. The fact is that plastic pollution does affect global warming in many ways. Here, we will investigate how this occurs and how individuals, businesses and governments can take action to help prevent it.
Plastic is composed of many harmful chemicals, such as benzene, phthalates, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. When these chemicals break down due to sunlight and other environmental factors, they release harmful greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. The amount of greenhouse gases released by plastics may be small when compared to other sources like vehicles and industry, however, research indicates that plastic pollution increases the global average temperature by 0.5 degrees Celsius each year. This may seem small, but the repercussions of this can be devastating, as even minor increases in global temperatures can lead to more extreme weather patterns and unpredictable changes to the environment.
On top of contributing to global warming, plastic pollution also affects ecosystems and wildlife. Studies have found that approximately 4 billion tons of plastic have been deposited into the wax and oceans. This plastic has wreaked havoc on ocean life, with some fish ingesting plastics and it even affecting species like sea turtles who unsuspectingly swallow plastic bags that resemble jellyfish, their normal food source. Furthermore, plastic pollution also blocks waterways, reducing habitats for creatures, and absorbs pollutants from other sources like farms, leading to a decrease in water quality and further endangering marine life.
In order to try and combat the effects of plastic pollution on global warming, individuals, businesses, and governments must all take action. On the individual level, people can start by trying to reduce their use of plastic. A few simple changes like bringing reusable water bottles, carrying cloth shopping bags, and avoiding unnecessary single-use plastic packaging can make a big difference. Additionally, people can also volunteer with beach clean-up groups or donate to plastic pollution reduction initiatives. On the corporate side, companies can make a commitment to cutting back plastic usage and find alternatives to plastic packaging. Finally, governments can promote plastic-reducing campaigns, fund research into alternative packaging materials, and ban certain types of plastic products.
It is clear that plastic pollution does have an effect on global warming. Even though individual efforts may seem small and insignificant, if enough people make a change, it can have a significant impact. Businesses and governments must also come together to create and implement legislations that help protect our oceans and planet from this plastic pollution. Ultimately, people must understand and accept the reality of plastic pollution, so that we can all come together and take action against it.
