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India Tops Global Plastic Pollution
Context:
A recent study published in Nature from the University of Leeds reveals that India contributes to about a fifth of the world’s plastic pollution, surpassing previous estimates and other major contributors like Nigeria, Indonesia, and China.
More on News:
- India generates approximately 9.3 million tonnes (mt) of plastic pollution each year. This includes 5.8 mt of plastic burned and 3.5 mt released into the environment as debris.
- Approximately 251 million tonnes (mt) of plastic waste are produced each year. To put this in perspective, this amount of waste would fill roughly 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Managed vs. Unmanaged Waste
- Managed Waste: This category includes plastic waste collected by municipal systems. It is either recycled or sent to landfills. Effective management of this waste reduces environmental impact.
- Unmanaged Waste: Includes plastic burned in open fires and releases fine particulates and toxic gases, including carbon monoxide.
- These emissions have been linked to severe health issues such as heart disease, respiratory disorders, cancer, and neurological problems.
- Plastic waste that is not properly disposed of often ends up as debris, polluting diverse environments from high-altitude areas like Mount Everest to the deep-sea floor of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
- Unmanaged waste amounts to about 52.1 mt globally, with 43% (22.2 mt) as unburned debris and 29.9 mt burned in dumpsites or locally.
Key Highlights:
- Global North-South divide: The study highlights a divide where countries in Southern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South-eastern Asia contribute the most to plastic pollution, primarily through unmanaged waste.
- Approximately 69% of the world’s plastic waste emissions—around 35.7 Mt per year—come from just 20 countries (four are low-income, nine are lower-middle-income, and seven are upper-middle-income).
- In contrast, high-income countries (HICs) in the Global North have better waste management systems and are not ranked among the top polluters.
- HICs typically manage their waste through controlled disposal methods, reducing their environmental impact compared to the Global South, where inadequate waste management systems lead to higher pollution.
International Treaty Negotiations:
- The findings come at a crucial time as negotiations for the first legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution are underway.
- The UN Environmental Assembly aims to finalise this treaty by the end of 2024, marking a significant step towards addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.