Pathways to reduce global plastic waste mismanagement and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 386(6726), P. 1168 - 1173

Published: Nov. 14, 2024

Plastic production and plastic pollution have a negative effect on our environment, environmental justice, climate change. Using detailed global regional plastics datasets coupled with socioeconomic data, we employ machine learning to predict that, without intervention, annual mismanaged waste will nearly double 121 million metric tonnes (Mt) [100 139 Mt 95% confidence interval] by 2050. Annual greenhouse gas emissions from the system are projected grow 37% 3.35 billion CO 2 equivalent (3.09 3.54) over same period. The United Nations treaty presents an opportunity reshape these outcomes. We simulate eight candidate policies find that just four could together reduce 91% (86 98%) gross plastic–related one-third.

Language: Английский

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Plastics pollution exacerbates the impacts of all planetary boundaries

One Earth, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

SummaryPlastics are an international governance priority because of extensive and resource-intensive production, uncontrolled environmental releases, failure to control the chemicals within materials. We examine evidence that plastics have exceeded planetary safe operating space, discussing how pollution affects multiple Earth system processes along impact pathway from resource extraction production release fate impacts. Multiple lines capture complex reality these novel entities; a single boundary quantification would be detrimental. demonstrate causal links between other problems, exacerbating consequences breaching boundaries. propose biophysically defined variables for boundaries framework as way measure, monitor, mitigate global pollution. call urgent action, recognizing not only waste management problem but integrative part climate change, biodiversity, natural-resource-use policy.

Language: Английский

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Scientists’ warning on fossil fuels

Oxford Open Climate Change, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract The evidence is clear that fossil fuels—and the fuel industry and its enablers—are driving a multitude of interlinked crises jeopardize breadth stability life on Earth. Every stage cycle—extraction, processing, transport, combustion or conversion to petrochemical products—emits planet-heating greenhouse gases health-harming pollutants, in addition causing widespread environmental degradation. We review vast scientific showing fuels are root cause climate crisis, harm public health, worsen injustice, accelerate biodiversity extinction, pollution crisis. Fossil responsible for millions premature deaths, trillions dollars damages, escalating disruption ecosystems, threatening people, wildlife, livable future. has obscured concealed this through decades-long, multi-billion-dollar disinformation campaign aimed at blocking action phase out fuels. focus United States as world’s largest oil gas producer dominant contributor these crises. present science-and-justice-based solutions already exist governments civil society restrict influence industry, stop expansion, production use, make rapid, just transition clean, renewable energy materials across economy, while holding accountable deception damages. necessary away from will provide innumerable societal planetary benefits forge path forward sustaining

Language: Английский

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Hydrothermal liquefaction of plastic marine debris from the North Pacific Garbage Patch

Resources Conservation and Recycling, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 209, P. 107822 - 107822

Published: July 24, 2024

Ocean plastic waste poses a growing environmental threat, efforts are now underway to help clean the ocean surface or prevent streams entering. Repurposing these highly mixed polymers presents great challenge due their inherent complexity, intertanglement, and presence of contaminants. Herein, we process real samples ocean-floating plastics from North Pacific Garage Patch through supercritical hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), targeting chemical recycling into synthetic crude oil. Investigating key parameters (temperature, pressure, time, load), found that load temperature crucial influencing oil yield moderate conditions maximized hydrocarbon yield, reaching 90 wt%. Overall, longer residence times higher temperatures favored aromatic-rich oils. We suggest reaction pathway account for hydrogen release aromatization reactions, paraffin, olefin, aromatic contents. Supercritical HTL offers an effective, tailored approach complex mixtures produce

Language: Английский

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Plastic pollution: three numbers that support a crackdown

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 24, 2024

Language: Английский

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Monitoring Eco-Efficiency and Its Convergence Towards Sustainability in the European Rubber and Plastics Industry Through Circular Economy Transition

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 1272 - 1272

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

Eco-efficiency is crucial for the European rubber and plastics industry to minimize production costs through effective resource management (e.g., energy management) reduce environmental impacts like greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Circular economy (CE) solutions can support industry’s competitiveness while aligning with sustainability goals regulatory requirements. In present research, we employ a hybrid window data envelopment analysis (WDEA) methodology measure panel eco-efficiency via application of moving average principle. The examination 27 countries as decision-making units (DMUs), in period 2014–2022, led conclusion that 70.33%, showing most DMUs ameliorate their performance regarding pollution control. highest 2014 be monitored Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, but 2022, only Ireland Switzerland kept positions, whereas Norway dropped 16th position Poland plummeted 24th hierarchical position. Geographical disparities spotted, Northern Western Europe have greater than Eastern Southern Europe. At second level analysis, convergence between under consideration examined using log t regression test club clustering. leads three final clubs where conditional dominates.

Language: Английский

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Environmental Footprint of Polylactic Acid Production Utilizing Cane-sugar and Microalgal Biomass: An LCA Case Study

Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 145132 - 145132

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Evaluation methodology and application of Scope 3 emissions at the city and region scale in South Korea

Resources Conservation and Recycling, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 217, P. 108195 - 108195

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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Time to count plastics in climate action

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6738), P. 1048 - 1048

Published: March 6, 2025

Language: Английский

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Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost

EBioMedicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 105730 - 105730

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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