Plastic pollution to double by 2030 ― UNEP

Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water could more than double by 2030, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has alerted.

It stated in a report highlighting the dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate.

It also said a drastic reduction in unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastic is crucial to addressing the global pollution crisis overall.

It proposed an accelerated transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, the removal of subsidies and a shift toward more circular approaches to help reduce plastic waste at the needed scale.

The report titled ‘From Pollution to Solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution’ showed that there was a growing threat across all ecosystems, from source to sea.

According to the UN group, it also shows that there is the know-how to reverse the mounting crisis, provided the political will is there, and urgent action is taken.

The document released 10 days ahead of the start of the crucial UN Climate Conference, COP26 stressed that plastics are a climate problem as well.

Addressing solutions to the problem, the authors highlighted chances of recycling out of the plastic pollution crisis.

They warned against damaging alternatives, such as bio-based or biodegradable plastics, which currently posed a threat similar to conventional plastics.