 Health
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Image: Pixabay via Pexels
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Lancet Says Climate Change Wreaks Havoc on Public Health
By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer
This week, the medical journal Lancet published their annual report on the connection between health and climate change, subtitling it: “code red for a healthy future.” The report goes deeper than the obvious effects of wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather events — looking at food security; livelihoods; human physical and mental health — and stating concerns regarding the survival, transmission, and spread of infectious diseases on a warmer planet.
Researchers also warn that governments need to take serious action at COP26 in the near future, stating in the report that “at the current pace of reduction, it would take more than 150 years for the energy system to fully decarbonize.”
Why this Matters: According to the report, there were 345,000 heat-related deaths in people over 65 in 2019, and currently, viruses causing diseases such as dengue, Zika, and malaria are becoming more resilient and widespread due to global mobility and environmental suitability.
“The data in this report are more than just alarming statistics and trends,” Dr. Renee Salas, a lead author of the policy brief, said in a statement. “I took an oath to protect health and prevent harm, and I can’t do that unless we address climate change.”
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 Climate Change
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Image: mali maeder via Pexels
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Plastic Industry Set to Outpace Coal Emissions by 2030
By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer
While burning coal remains a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, another industry is set to outpace it: plastic. A new report from Bennington College and Beyond Plastics estimates the plastic industry emits over 232 million tons of greenhouse gases each year, the equivalent of 116 coal-fired power plants.
Why this Matters: Coal production in 2020 hit a 50-year low and despite its rise in use this year, experts suggest the fossil fuel may be reaching the end of its era. But the benefits of this shift may be undermined by a ramping up in the plastic industry. More than 12 plastic production plants are currently under construction, with 15 more in the pipeline.
Plastic Pollutes
The report found that US petrochemical facilities producing plastics are overrepresented in low-income communities of color, 18 of which are subject to 90% of the industry's pollution. Also, because the US doesn’t require the plastic industry to report its emissions and air pollution, the government doesn’t have a clear sense of its impacts.
“The scale of the plastics industry’s greenhouse gas emissions is staggering, but it’s equally concerning that few people in government or in the business community are even talking about it,” Judith Enck, the president of Beyond Plastics and a former EPA regional administrator, told Reuters.
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Climate Change
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Plastic Pellets Photo: Gentlemanrook, Wiki CC
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Atmospheric Microplastics May Contribute to Warming Temps
By Alex Bowman, ODP Contributing Writer
It’s well known the impact that fossil fuels have on our atmosphere, but new research finds petroleum products are entering our air in a whole new form: microplastics. A study published in Nature on Wednesday reveals findings of how airborne microplastics behave in the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global temperature rise. The results highlight how widespread microplastic pollution is and the extent of its potential impact on climate change.
Why This Matters: Plastic pollution is an environmental threat often discussed alongside climate change, but this new research affirms just how intertwined the two are. The world currently produces about 300 million tons of plastic waste every year with only 20 petrochemical companies producing more than half of the world’s single-use plastic. One of the many problems with plastic waste is that it doesn’t stay put. Instead, it decomposes into tiny microfibers that can travel over land and sea. While now understanding how microplastics impact our world, the production of plastics hasn’t stopped.
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 Sustainability
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Image: cottonbro via Pexels
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One Cool Thing: Fighting the Pandemic Plastic Boom
Startups across the country are on a mission to provide sustainable food packaging options and close the plastic loop, especially prompted by the pandemic take-out boom. Over 70% of Americans order delivery one to three times a week, creating hundreds of billions of single-use bowls, bags, utensils, and more.
But some innovative companies have popped up to solve the resulting plastic pandemic. Companies like DeliverZero, a platform for ordering food in reusable containers, offer people a way to check out their containers like library books and return them to restaurants in the future.
“We are on the cusp of a reuse revolution,” according to a statement by Bridget Croke, managing director of Closed Loop Partners. She wants to “build reuse back into our cultural and behavioral norms.” She shares this sentiment with conservation organizations like the World Wildlife Fund. Their experts say a cultural shift toward viewing plastic as a valuable commodity is essential to reducing waste.
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