December 30, 2019
There is a narrow window of opportunity to address the critical
But it is important not to forget the need for large-scale systemic changes
needed internationally to tackle all environmental concerns. Partly fuelled by
the success of the BBC’s ‘Blue Planet II’ series, people are more aware than
ever before about the dangers to wildlife caused by plastic pollution, as well
as the impact it can have on human health, with industries promising money to
tackle the issue.Alternative products can often have different but equally
severe environmental problems. In 2009, the concept of planetary boundaries was
introduced by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, to indicate safe operating limits
for the Earth from a number of environmental threats. (Photo:
Representational/Pixabay) UK: By now, most of us have heard that the use of
plastics is a big issue for the environment.
There is a narrow window of
opportunity to address the critical challenge of, in particular, climate
change.Three boundaries were found to have exceeded: biodiversity loss, nitrogen
flows and climate change. Take, for example, energy-efficient light bulbs – in
practice, using these has been shown to have very little effect on a person’s
overall carbon footprint.The focus needs to be on making the way we live more
sustainable by questioning our overly consumerist lifestyles that are at the
root of major challenges such as climate change, rather than a narrower focus on
sustainable consumer choices, such as buying our takeaway coffee in a reusable
cup.Despite the importance of this message, environmental news has been
dominated by the issues of plastic pollution. We must reform the way we live
rather than tweak the choices we make. Now is not the time to be distracted by
the convenient truth of plastic pollution, as the relatively minor threats this
poses are eclipsed by the global systemic threats of climate change. Studies on
the toxicity effects, especially to humans are often overplayed. But this is not
the case. It could lead to major disruptions of our ways of life, by making many
areas uninhabitable due increased temperatures and rising sea levels.That’s not
to say plastic pollution isn’t a problem, rather there are much bigger problems
facing the world we live in, specifically climate change.Taking a stand against
plastic, by carrying reusable coffee cups, or eating in restaurant chains where
only paper straws are provided, is the classic neo-liberal response. Consumers
drive markets and consumer choices will therefore create change in the
industry.
Yes, we know plastic can entangle birds, fish and marine mammals, which
can starve after filling their stomachs with plastics and yet there are no
conclusive studies on population level effects of plastic pollution.*The article
was originally published by The Conversation Global Perspectives.. And failure
to do so could lead to massive systemic impacts to the Earth’s capacity to
support life – particularly the human race. This includes longer-term and more
effective solutions to the plastic problem but also extending to more radical
large-scale initiatives to reduce consumption, decarbonise economies and move
beyond materialism as the basis for our well-being.These "clear and present
dangers†of climate change and biodiversity loss could undermine the capacity of
our planet to support over seven billion people, with the loss of homes, food
sources and livelihoods.5ËšC.
China
automatic blowing machine Suppliers Climate change and biodiversity loss are
also considered core planetary boundaries meaning if they are exceeded for a
prolonged time, they can shift the planet into new, less hospitable, stable
states.Single use plastics are now high on the agenda, with many people trying
to do their bit to reduce usage. Much of the news focused on what individuals
could do to reduce their carbon footprint, although some articles did also
indicate the need for collective action. Climate change and biodiversity loss
are also considered core planetary boundaries meaning if they are exceeded for a
prolonged time, they can shift the planet into new, less hospitable, stable
states.
And the benefits of these small-scale consumer driven changes are often
minor. But what if all of this just provides a convenient distraction from some
of the more serious environmental issues? In our new article in the journal
Marine Policy we argue plastic pollution or more accurately the response of
governments and industry to addressing plastic pollution provides a "convenient
truth†that distracts from addressing the real environmental threats such as
climate change. So it’s not surprising that so many people think ocean plastics
are the most serious environmental threat to the planet.But by making these
small changes, plastic still appears to be an issue we can address.This is not
to distract from the fact that some significant steps have been taken to help
the planet environmentally by reducing plastic waste. The Ocean Cleanup of
plastic pollution, which aims to sieve plastic out of the sea, is a classic
example.
These changes could start to happen within the current century.Here's
how our obsession with plastic pollution is distracting our attention from
bigger environmental challenges.In October last year the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a report detailing drastic action needed to
limit global warming to 1. Despite many scientists’ misgivings about the project
and its recent failed attempts to collect plastic the project is still
attractive to many as it allows us to tackle the issue without having to make
any major lifestyle changes. Research shows for example, that plastic is not as
great a threat to oceans as climate change or over-fishing
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