New Study Examines Climate Impact of Plastic Waste

FEATURING CARROLL MUFFETT – There has been tremendous concern around the pollution of our oceans, our soil and food systems, and even our bodies from plastic waste. Now, a new study has examined a little-discussed impact – how plastic waste exacerbates climate change.

The Center for International Environmental Law produced the study, called Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet found among other things that, “the production and incineration of plastic will produce more than 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases—equal to the emissions from 189 five-hundred- megawatt coal power plants.”

The report calls for an end to the production and use of single-use, disposable plastic and the curtailing of new oil, gas, and petrochemical infrastructure.

Read Carroll Muffett’s article for the Guardian called ‘The Earth’s climate is paying for our addiction to plastic,’ HERE.

Carroll Muffett, President & CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law.

**This segment was originally broadcast on May 15, 2019.