Researchers from RMIT University are urging nations to account for plastic emissions in their climate action plans. This call to action comes ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference and addresses a significant gap in global emission reduction efforts.
Scientists from RMIT University are urging nations worldwide to count carbon emissions from plastic production and waste in their climate action plans, in anticipation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 30) set to take place in Brazil.
In a letter published in the journal Science, the researchers revealed a startling gap: over 90% of Paris Agreement signatories fail to address plastics in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) plans, creating a substantial void in combating climate change.
“We argue that countries should include the plastic sector in their NDCs,” senior lead author Tanveer Adyel, a senior research fellow at RMIT’s Centre for Nature Positive Solutions (CNPS), said in a news release.
A Growing Crisis
The staggering global production of approximately 460 million tonnes of plastic annually contributes up to 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Alarmingly, plastic production is expected to triple by 2050 if current trends continue.
“These action plans are a key part of the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,” Adyel added.
The Underestimated Pollutant
About 99% of plastics originate from fossil fuels, and each stage of the plastic lifecycle, from extraction to disposal, releases greenhouse gases.
“The post-consumption emissions from plastics are significant contributors to total emissions, as the incineration, burning or improper management of plastics emit large amounts of greenhouse gases,” first author Mohammad Abu Noman, an RMIT doctoral scholar, said in the news release.
Despite plastics comprising roughly 21% of global municipal waste, post-consumption emissions have been largely overlooked in most countries’ NDCs.
“Only 11 countries out of 194 have included measures to address plastic waste,” added co-author Peter Macreadie, a director of CNPS.
A Call for Action
The researchers stress that there’s still time for nations to update their NDCs to better account for plastic emissions.
“Countries should redefine their plastic-related emission reduction targets with interim goals and accountability measures,” Noman added.
This includes cutting plastic production, redesigning products to decouple plastic from fossil fuels and incentivizing sustainable practices.
“Given the recent failure of global plastic treaty negotiations to produce an agreement, the Paris Agreement is even more essential to address the complex challenges of plastics and climate change,” added Adyel.
Without decisive, unified action, the world might fail to meet the target of keeping warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Source: RMIT University