Plastic pollution in oceans on track to rise for decades
2 years, 10 months ago

Plastic pollution in oceans on track to rise for decades

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Plastic pollution at sea is reaching worrying levels and will continue to grow even if significant action is taken now to stop such waste from reaching the world's oceans, according to a review of hundreds of academic studies. The review by Germany s Alfred Wegener Institute, commissioned by environmental campaign group WWF examined almost 2,600 research papers on the topic to provide an overview ahead of a United Nations meeting later this month. Matthew MacLeod, a professor of environmental science at Stockholm University who was not involved in the report, said it appeared to be a sound review of existing studies, focused on the effects of plastic pollution.

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History of this topic

How to tackle plastic pollution and reduce plastic waste
1 week, 1 day ago

How to tackle plastic pollution and reduce plastic waste

India Today  

Plastic pollution is one of the most significant environmental problems our world is facing today. By making small efforts in our daily lives, everyone can contribute significantly to reducing plastic waste. SMALL ACTIONS TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION Reduce the use of straws, plastic cutlery, and bottled water. This small habit encourages responsible waste management and when consistently followed, this habit …

A cut in time: On the plastic pollution problem
2 weeks, 5 days ago

A cut in time: On the plastic pollution problem

The Hindu  

Despite a week of wrangling, an ambitious endeavour piloted by the United Nations Environment Programme to phase out plastic turned out to be a failure. The Global Plastics Treaty is the result of a resolution by member-countries of the United Nations, passed in 2022, to ‘end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.’ Over the next two years, countries met …

“Moral failure:” Plastic treaty talks collapse, posing a major setback in fight against pollution
3 weeks ago

“Moral failure:” Plastic treaty talks collapse, posing a major setback in fight against pollution

Salon  

Plastic pollution is choking the planet. Regardless, treaty negotiations to end plastic pollution collapsed on Sunday after the event in Busan, South Korea closed without the nations firmly agreeing to put limits on plastic production. Related The only thing that blocks adoption of more sustainable plastics is our obsession with fossil fuels The world produces more than 400 million metric …

Countries fail to reach agreement on plastic pollution treaty at UN talks in South Korea
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Countries fail to reach agreement on plastic pollution treaty at UN talks in South Korea

ABC  

Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have failed to reach an agreement, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production, while a handful of oil producers were prepared only to target plastic waste. The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the …

Plastic treaty talks fail over disagreement on production cuts
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Plastic treaty talks fail over disagreement on production cuts

The Hindu  

Delegates from nearly 170 countries who gathered in Busan, South Korea, failed to agree on a framework agreement to eliminate plastic pollution, despite a week of negotiations. “We share the unhappiness we feel in this room with the limited amount of progress that we were able to make,” said Hugo Schally, who spoke on behalf of the European Union at …

Global treaty to tackle plastic pollution hits snag as countries fail to agree
Top News
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Global treaty to tackle plastic pollution hits snag as countries fail to agree

Firstpost  

The fifth and final U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting to yield a legally binding global treaty was set to wrap up in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday, but a final plenary session had not been held as of 4:00 p.m. A plastic bottle floats in the sea at Maccarese beach, west of Rome, Italy. File image/ Reuters Doubts rose on …

Greenpeace activists board tanker demanding cut in plastic production
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Greenpeace activists board tanker demanding cut in plastic production

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Greenpeace International activists board a tanker in South Korea carrying petrochemicals destined for plastic production. …

What to know about the plastic pollution crisis as treaty talks conclude in South Korea
3 weeks, 3 days ago

What to know about the plastic pollution crisis as treaty talks conclude in South Korea

Associated Press  

BUSAN, South Korea — The world’s nations will wrap up negotiating a treaty this weekend to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Their meeting concludes Sunday or early Monday in Busan, South Korea, where many environmental organizations have also flocked to push for a treaty to address the volume of production and toxic chemicals used in plastic products. Greenpeace said …

Fears hundreds of fossil fuel lobbyists could derail crucial plastic pollution summit
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Fears hundreds of fossil fuel lobbyists could derail crucial plastic pollution summit

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Allowing fossil fuel and petrochemical companies to exert their influence in these negotiations is like letting foxes guard the …

Millions of tons of plastic foul the world around us
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Millions of tons of plastic foul the world around us

Associated Press  

On a Philippines beach, barefoot children jumped and played on shoals of plastic washed ashore in previous typhoons. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print People store various waste materials in plastic sacks for sorting out in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn …

‘Once in a lifetime’ chance to end plastic pollution as nations assemble in Busan
3 weeks, 6 days ago

‘Once in a lifetime’ chance to end plastic pollution as nations assemble in Busan

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Environment activists stage a rally calling for a strong global plastics treaty ahead of the …

Why is a global treaty on plastic pollution dividing the world?
Trending News
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Why is a global treaty on plastic pollution dividing the world?

LA Times  

Garbage, mostly plastic, collected en route to Mt. Even before the meeting began Monday, South Korean Environment Minister Kim Wan-sup was trying to dial back expectations, telling reporters: “I believe it may be more realistic to pursue stepwise measures.” Here is what you need to know about the problem and the efforts to solve it: How bad is the world’s …

India suggests funding proposal for plastic phase-out
3 weeks, 6 days ago

India suggests funding proposal for plastic phase-out

Hindustan Times  

India has circulated a proposal for the financial arrangement to implement a global legally binding instrument on phasing out plastic pollution, currently being negotiated in South Korea’s Busan where the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment is being held. India’s proposal suggests that parties …

Can the World Unite to End the Plastic Pollution Crisis?
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Can the World Unite to End the Plastic Pollution Crisis?

Live Mint  

-- The final round of United Nations-brokered talks aimed at tackling plastic pollution are opening in South Korea with deep divisions over the need to stem the rising flood of the material, a rift that threatens to scupper a two-year long quest for a deal. A coalition of nearly 70 nations, including Rwanda, Norway and the UK, is pushing for …

“Absolutely devastating”: Climate change is pushing coral reefs to extinction, experts warn
1 month ago

“Absolutely devastating”: Climate change is pushing coral reefs to extinction, experts warn

Salon  

The Chagos Archipelago is one of the most remote places on Earth. “Currently coral reefs face many threats, including biodiversity loss, water quality, climate change, disease, predation, coastal development, litter, marine traffic and pollution,” Alliji explained. “The ocean has no boundaries and therefore a collaborative approach is required to ensure coral survival and guarantee their future.” We need your help …

Garbage dumpyard in Pacific Ocean is getting bigger and bigger
1 month ago

Garbage dumpyard in Pacific Ocean is getting bigger and bigger

India Today  

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals a disturbing trend in the North Pacific Garbage Patch : centimeter-sized plastic fragments are accumulating at an alarming rate, outpacing the growth of larger plastic debris. The research, conducted by The Ocean Cleanup between 2015 and 2022, found that plastic fragments in the NPGP rose from 2.9kg per square km to …

THE DUCHESS OF YORK: I'm on a mission to rid nappies of plastic
1 month, 1 week ago

THE DUCHESS OF YORK: I'm on a mission to rid nappies of plastic

Daily Mail  

In a few months I’m going to become a grandmother for the fifth time. Every minute, more than 380,000 nappies are thrown away around the world, and the World Economic Forum says that it is producing nearly 40 million tons of waste each year. The Duchess of York pictured with daughter Princess Beatrice and granddaughter Sienna Princess Beatrice of York, …

Greenpeace block access to Unilever HQ in single-use plastics protest
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Greenpeace block access to Unilever HQ in single-use plastics protest

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Greenpeace UK activists blocked access …

The world is pumping out 57 million tons of plastic pollution a year
3 months, 2 weeks ago

The world is pumping out 57 million tons of plastic pollution a year

Associated Press  

The world creates 57 million tons of plastic pollution every year and spreads it from the deepest oceans to the highest mountaintop to the inside of people’s bodies, according to a new study that also said more than two-thirds of it comes from the Global South. For 15% of the world’s population, government fails to collect and dispose of waste, …

Groups say they're shut out of global treaty talks on plastics pollution in Bangkok
4 months ago

Groups say they're shut out of global treaty talks on plastics pollution in Bangkok

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Scientists discover plastic-eating fungi that could help clean up world’s oceans
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Scientists discover plastic-eating fungi that could help clean up world’s oceans

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scientists in Germany have identified a type of fungi that is capable of breaking down …

Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dr. Marya Zlatnik, a San …

Biden administration seeks to eliminate single-use plastics in federal government by 2035
5 months ago

Biden administration seeks to eliminate single-use plastics in federal government by 2035

LA Times  

President Biden announced a new goal Friday to phase out the purchasing and use of single-use plastics across the federal government by 2035. The action is part of a government strategy to “target plastic pollution at production, processing, use and disposal,” according to a government report titled “Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities.” The new initiative …

An ocean of plastics
5 months, 1 week ago

An ocean of plastics

The Hindu  

There is a real-felt need to go beyond mere tokenism of staging earth-hours now and then to stoke dormant concerns on the world’s increasingly fragile ecology. Increased infusion of plastics, much of it non-biodegradable and unrecycled, in IT and other industrial sectors and in day-to-day life poses another existential threat. These incidents portend the looming unmanaged plastic and e-waste threat, …

Talks to end global plastic pollution reach pivotal stage in Canada
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Talks to end global plastic pollution reach pivotal stage in Canada

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy For the first time, negotiators from most of the world's nations are discussing the text …

Plastic—a slow poison threatening humanity and the planet: Experts
8 months ago

Plastic—a slow poison threatening humanity and the planet: Experts

Hindustan Times  

A seminar on ‘Planet vs. Plastic’ was held to commemorate Earth Day on Monday. Plastic—a slow poison threatening humanity and the planet: Experts The event brought together leading voices from environmental organisations and government bodies to discuss the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution. The event was inaugurated by Dr Heera Lal, chairman and administrator of the Greater Sharda Sahayak …

Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says
9 months, 1 week ago

Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says

The Hindu  

At least 3,000 more chemicals are in plastics — from food packaging to toys to medical devices — than previously estimated by environmental agencies, a report published on Thursday found, raising questions over pollution and consumer safety. While the United Nations Environment Programme had previously identified around 13,000 plastic chemicals, the report by a team of European scientists found more …

Scientists discover proteins that can eat plastic
10 months ago

Scientists discover proteins that can eat plastic

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, …

Plastic experts say recycling is a scam. Should we even do it anymore?
10 months ago

Plastic experts say recycling is a scam. Should we even do it anymore?

Salon  

When the Center for Climate Integrity released its report about plastic recycling, one might have expected the environmentalist non-profit to encourage the practice. Yet the title of Center for Climate Integrity's report — "The Fraud of Plastic Recycling" — reveals a very different point-of-view. "Even if plastic recycling rates were higher, recycling alone could never come close to solving the …

The Dark Side of Ocean Cleanup Technology
11 months ago

The Dark Side of Ocean Cleanup Technology

Slate  

Rebecca Helm despises the phrase “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” This moniker is used to describe the vast stretch of ocean from the west coast of North America to Japan that is crammed with an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of trash, most of which are plastic. However, several years later, Helm still believes that we don’t understand enough about the environmental …

At talks on cutting plastic pollution, plastic credits are on the table. What are they?
1 year, 1 month ago

At talks on cutting plastic pollution, plastic credits are on the table. What are they?

The Hindu  

Two groups that want reduced plastics production published a report Friday highly critical of plastic credits, calling them a flawed tool that won't help with worldwide pollution from the material. Verra, the world's leading certifier of carbon offsets, said at an event alongside the talks alongside the talks that plastic credits can be a tool for mobilizing the money needed …

At talks on cutting plastics pollution, plastic credits are on the table. What are they?
1 year, 1 month ago

At talks on cutting plastics pollution, plastic credits are on the table. What are they?

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — Two groups that want reduced plastics production published a report Friday highly critical of plastic credits, calling them a flawed tool that won’t help with worldwide pollution from the material. “Without the proper funding mechanisms and tools, even the most ambitious treaty won’t deliver its promised impact.” PCX said in a statement Friday in response to the …

Why it is important to teach the next generation about sustainability
1 year, 3 months ago

Why it is important to teach the next generation about sustainability

The Hindu  

Today, when concerns about climate change, pollution, and dwindling natural resources have become urgent and unavoidable, the role of education in shaping the next generation’s perspective on sustainability is paramount. It’s inspiring to see students light up with curiosity when they discover how their actions — from reducing single-use plastic to conserving energy at home — can influence this delicate …

The Planet Earth in a Plastic Soup
1 year, 6 months ago

The Planet Earth in a Plastic Soup

Hindustan Times  

The United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry to honour the 100th Anniversary of the Nobel award in Chemistry to Marie Curie and also to commemorate the contributions of chemical sciences in the progress of human civilization. Unsurprisingly, the United Nations has declared ‘#Beat Plastic Pollution’ as the central theme of this year’s World Environment Day — …

For people and planet, plastic pollution must end
1 year, 6 months ago

For people and planet, plastic pollution must end

China Daily  

Li Min/China Daily Fifty years ago, plastic was not as ubiquitous as it is today — microplastics in soil were not limiting crop growth and the equivalent of a garbage truck's worth was not dumped in our oceans every minute. Supporting large-scale users like supermarkets and their suppliers to eradicate, reduce, replace or reuse plastic packaging, in addition to introducing …

World Environment Day: Oceans are feeling the heat
1 year, 6 months ago

World Environment Day: Oceans are feeling the heat

Live Mint  

It’s not just land temperatures we need to keep an eye on. An update from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List in December 2022 also highlighted that human activity is leaving marine species devastated. This Red List update brings to light new evidence of the multiple interacting threats to declining life in the sea,” said Prof. Jon …

Investors call for urgent action to reduce dependency on plastic
1 year, 7 months ago

Investors call for urgent action to reduce dependency on plastic

NL Times  

A group of 185 investors, including Dutch companies Achmea, Triodos, and PME Pensioenfonds, called for "urgent action" to reduce dependence on single-use plastic packaging, the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development said on Thursday. "Companies must set a clear vision to drastically reduce consumption of single-use plastic packaging in absolute terms, phase out hazardous chemicals and, crucially, advocate for …

Microplastics Are Polluting the Ocean at a Shocking Rate
1 year, 9 months ago

Microplastics Are Polluting the Ocean at a Shocking Rate

Wired  

If you throw a polyester sweatshirt in the washing machine, it doesn’t emerge as quite its former self. An international team of researchers calculates that between 82 and 358 trillion plastic particles—a collective 2.4 to 10.8 billion pounds—are floating across the world … and that’s only in the top foot of seawater. “We're talking about quintillions, probably, that's out there, …

How much plastic is too much for our planet?
1 year, 11 months ago

How much plastic is too much for our planet?

Al Jazeera  

On Wednesday, January 11 at 19:30 GMT: Microplastics – tiny particles that result from the breakdown of plastics – are everywhere, from the air we breathe to the water we drink. And while the harms caused by microplastics are still being studied, researchers and environmental advocates say more action needs to be taken to rein in plastic pollution. Global plastic …

India has taken ‘resolute’ steps towards eliminating single-use plastic, says Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey
2 years, 2 months ago

India has taken ‘resolute’ steps towards eliminating single-use plastic, says Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey

The Hindu  

India has taken resolute steps to reflect its commitment towards elimination of single-use plastics and it has also taken leadership in international fora to channel global attention towards the pollution they cause, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey has said. He was speaking at the two-day national Eco Alternatives Expo and Start-Up conference …

Canada to ban single-use plastics by the end of the year in a ‘historic’ move
2 years, 6 months ago

Canada to ban single-use plastics by the end of the year in a ‘historic’ move

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The ambitious plan comes after years of announcements made by Justin Trudeau’s government to ban single-use plastic in order …

Antibiotics from plastics! Study reveals use of microplastics in water bodies
2 years, 6 months ago

Antibiotics from plastics! Study reveals use of microplastics in water bodies

Live Mint  

As the world struggles to combat pollution in various aspects-- soil, air, water, noise-- a recent study published in the journal, 'American Society for Microbiology' have found that plastic pollution may after all serve as the source for antibiotics in ocean. Scientists and experts who conducted the study have pointed out that at least 5-13 million tonnes of plastic waste …

Efforts on to contain plastic pollution off Kerala coast
2 years, 6 months ago

Efforts on to contain plastic pollution off Kerala coast

The Hindu  

As the world celebrated Ocean Day on Wednesday, the 24 fishing harbours in the State have come under the ‘Suchitwa Saagaram, Sundara Theeram’ campaign that was launched on a pilot basis at the Neendakara fishing harbour in Kollam under a State government initiative to clear the Kerala coastal sea waters and the coast of plastic waste accumulation. Sheik Pareeth, managing …

World Oceans Day 2022: Why Is Plastic Waste A Problem?
2 years, 6 months ago

World Oceans Day 2022: Why Is Plastic Waste A Problem?

News 18  

WORLD OCEANS DAY 2022: One of the major natural resources that make planet earth habitable and distinct from other planets, is water. However, oceans today face a large threat from water pollution and the menace of plastic waste. Oceans often become a dumping site for this plastic waste that ends up degrading the quality of water. Humans consume these marine …

Big Plastic Count: UK’s biggest investigation into household plastic waste begins
2 years, 7 months ago

Big Plastic Count: UK’s biggest investigation into household plastic waste begins

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Tens of thousands of people across the UK will take part in recording how much packaging they throw away …

State accuses Exxon Mobil of deceiving public, perpetuating ‘myth’ of plastics recycling
2 years, 7 months ago

State accuses Exxon Mobil of deceiving public, perpetuating ‘myth’ of plastics recycling

LA Times  

A toy dog skeleton and other plastic debris lie strewn along the banks of Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey. Rob Bonta said Thursday that his office has subpoenaed Exxon Mobil Corp. seeking information related to the company’s “historic and ongoing efforts” to minimize the public’s understanding of the harmful consequences of plastic. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, flanked by …

Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染
2 years, 8 months ago

Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染

China Daily  

媒体英语 Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染 Play audio file 世界多国将制定一项旨在解决塑料污染问题的国际条约。近 200 个国家同意就这份协议展开磋商，以采取行动，应对 “塑料危机”。 There's growing concern that discarded plastic is destroying habitats, harming wildlife and contaminating the food chain. 人们越来越担心废弃塑料正在破坏栖息地、危害野生动植物健康、污染食物链。因为这个问题跨越国界，所以需要一个全球性的解决方案。 In what's being seen as a landmark decision, the United Nations is moving forward with plans to bring in a legally binding international treaty that targets …

Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染
2 years, 8 months ago

Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染

China Daily  

媒体英语 Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “历史性” 协商应对塑料污染 Play audio file 世界多国将制定一项旨在解决塑料污染问题的国际条约。近 200 个国家同意就这份协议展开磋商，以采取行动，应对 “塑料危机”。 There's growing concern that discarded plastic is destroying habitats, harming wildlife and contaminating the food chain. 人们越来越担心废弃塑料正在破坏栖息地、危害野生动植物健康、污染食物链。因为这个问题跨越国界，所以需要一个全球性的解决方案。 In what's being seen as a landmark decision, the United Nations is moving forward with plans to bring in a legally binding international treaty that targets …

Tackling the plastic problem
2 years, 9 months ago

Tackling the plastic problem

The Hindu  

A report released by the United Nations Environment Programme last year estimated that emissions of plastic waste into the aquatic ecosystems may triple by 2040 if no meaningful action is taken. But it also causes inconvenience for consumers, increases substitution cost, and creates unemployment shocks as it affects the production of plastics, leading to less economic activity, less income generation …

UN body weighs a global treaty to fight plastic pollution
2 years, 9 months ago

UN body weighs a global treaty to fight plastic pollution

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — Delegates from United Nations member countries are considering proposals for a binding global treaty to curb plastic pollution. “For the first time in history, we are seeing unprecedented global momentum to tackle the plague of plastic pollution,” said U.N. Environment Assembly, Andersen said it “would be the most significant global; environmental governance decision since the Paris Agreement …

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