Plastic Usage during Covid and its Impact on Climate Change

Climate change includes both global warming driven by anthropogenic and natural causes of greenhouse gases emissions, and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. The largest driver of warming is the emission of greenhouse gases, of which more than 90% are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. Plastic waste is one of the major environmental problems of the century. Overall, an approximate estimate of about 8000 million metric tons of plastic wastes has been discarded in environment so far. As economies grow, the per capita plastic consumption increases. A more circular approach is required to change from a current linear system to a circular system decoupling the negative environmental and economic impact. COVID-19 pandemic caused a greater shift in the plastic consumption and disposal pattern across the globe. During the pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) has driven increased plastic pollution. In response to high PPE demand among the general public, health care workers, and service workers, single-use face mask production in China soared to 116 million per day in February, about 12 times the usual quantity. Packaging industries consume most of the plastics produced and the Corona pandemic greatly influenced the plastic consumption and disposal. As the plastic production increased, the GHG emissions also increase which results in higher climatic impact. The high generation of plastic wastes resulted in increased incineration treatment which exacerbated the GHG emissions due to plastic waste management. In the Philippines, Vietnam and India, as much as 80% of the recycling industry was not operating during the height of the pandemic. Some of the major world economies like the European Union, South Korea, Indonesia have taken positive steps to bring climate friendly policies along with bolstering economic growth. COVID-19 recovery presents both opportunities and threats to enhance our resilience to climate change and environmental pollution caused by plastic waste and this event would help you to explore and reflect around this topic.