THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Almost all plastic is derived from materials (like ethylene and propylene) made from fossil fuels (mostly oil and gas). The process of extracting and transporting those fuels, then manufacturing plastic creates billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases. Plastic dumped in landfills can take hundreds of years to break down using a process called photodegradation. Over time, plastic breaks down into methane and ethylene which also contribute to climate change, albeit slowly. Other toxins are also released into the local ecosystems causing ground pollution. The waste management of plastic products has long been a problem. Burning plastic waste is a source of air pollution that is harmful to human health but also releases toxins and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that impacts global warming. In our oceans, plastics directly chokes and smothers a host of marine animals and habitats and can take hundreds of years to break down. As our climate changes, the planet gets hotter, the plastic breaks down into more methane and ethylene, increasing the rate of climate change, and so perpetuating the cycle. The tiny powerhouses (microplastics) play a critical role in taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water and sequestering it in deep ocean sinks. Our studies show that plastic can affect the water-holding capacity of drains, river channels and reservoirs. This leads to flooding of adjacent lands and loss of biological diversity and livelihoods. To combact plastic pollution some steps needs to be taken such as government should levy a high fee on each plastic bag that shoppers get at mall and markets because it will discourage people from discarding them after single use; the people should be educated on the three Rs: reduce, recycle and reuse plastic material; the dangers imposed by discarding water satchet and bottles in the environment. Paper bags should be encouraged; government should launch a campaign to crack down on plastic bags and bottles in the country; government should pass the “plastic pollution bill” into law to serve as a guide for the citizens.