Plastic Waste andHow it isconnected toClimate Crisis
Chalani Rubesinghe/ FoE Sri Lanka
Hyein Yu/ FoE Korea

Line up
1. How plastics affect climate change
2. The current situation of plastic issues especially in theAPAC region and connection to Climate Change
3. Global Plastics Treaty: what was done at INC4, what
we are demanding and expectation for INC5

How plastics affectclimate change●●●●Plastics cause greenhouse gas
emissions throughout its lifecycle.
Oil, gas, and coal are the building
blocks of fossil-fuel basedplastics.
Extraction and transportation ofthese fossil fuels is a carbonintensive activity.
According to the World Economic
Forum, about 4-8% of annual
global oil consumption isassociated with plastics.

Source:https://foodprint.org/blog/plastic-and-climate-change/

How plastics affectclimate change

The estimate of OECD reveals thatthe life-cycle emissions of plastics
including production and disposal –is 1.8 billion tonnes carbon dioxide
equivalents.
As a whole, plastic production anduse contributes to 3.4% of global
greenhouse gas emissions.

Sources: How much of global greenhouse gas
emissions come from plastics? - Our World in Data.
The impacts of plastics’ life cycle - ScienceDirect.

Other problems of plastics - Human health and society••••••••Ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure, tochemicals of concern near production and disposal
facilities
Observed in drinking water (bottled and tap), beer,sea salt, seafood, honeyObserved in the placenta, lung tissue, and blood
Chemical toxicity via exposure to additives in plastics
Physical particle toxicity and accumulation
Economic losses from littered beaches
Correlation with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Psychological impacts from littered beaches

Source: The impacts of plastics’ life cycle - ScienceDirect.

Other problems of plastics - on the Biodiversity

•••••
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•

Entanglement
Limited mobility
Strangulation
DeathIngestion and inhalation
Toxicity
Decreased reproductive
healthHabitat displacement
Transport invasive
species, viruses andpathogens

Source: The impacts of plastics’ life cycle - ScienceDirect.

Other problems of plastics - on the Environment
••
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••••
••

Contamination
Air (e.g., indoor dust, sea spray, etc.)
Water (e.g., surface water, groundwater, sea ice, glaciers,oceans)
Soil (e.g., agricultural lands, landfills)
Impact to plant growth/agriculture from plastics in soils
Chemical release and transformation
Polymer-associated chemicals
Adsorb environmental contaminants
ClimateExtraction of fossil fuels for plastic production
Carbon cycling impeded by microplastics

Source: The impacts of plastics’ life cycle - ScienceDirect.

The current situation of plastic issues especiallyin the APAC region and connection to Climate Change•Waste colonialism APAC is a victim ofplastic waste tradedespite havinginadequate waste
management/
disposal facilities,
leading to pollution
as well as humanrights violations
https://breakfreefpde
v.wpengine.com/wpcontent/uploads/202
2/09/Plastic-WasteTrade-BriefingPaper.pdf

Export data source: Japan Export
Data — Basel Action Network

The current situation of plastic issues especiallyin the APAC region and connection to Climate Change
Issue

Palestine Russia

Sri Lanka India

Nepal

Banglade Indonesi
Philippin
Malaysia
Japanshaes

1. Waste colonialism

XXX

2. Chemical pollution throughconsumer plastics

XX

XX

XX

3. Emissions in production

X

4. Emissions in disposal

X

X

X

5. Inadequate national laws

X

X

X

6. Neglecting equitable, justtransition of waste pickers

X

X

X

7. False solutions

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X

X

South
Korea

X

PNG

Australia

X
X

X
X

X

GPT: what was done at INC4,
what we are demanding and expectation for INC5
[INC-4]
Expected● Clarify revised Zero Draft.
- Binding measures to phase down plastic polymer production- Global design standards for effective reuse and refill systems- Harmonized and more stringent regulations designed to minimize harmfrom plastic waste management- Clarity on scope and procedure that fosters e ciency and allows
breakthroughs
Done● Intersessional work will be held in Aug.
● Disagreement regarding primary plastic polymer regulation although there
are 65 countries which want to regulate it.
● Disagreement regarding the range of full life cycle of plastic.
Challenge● Increasing number of industry lobbyist participants.

GPT: what was done at INC4,
what we are demanding and expectation for INC5
[INC-5]What FoE is demanding and expecting for INC5?
● Scope of the new Treaty - whole lifecycle of all plastics and associatedpollution, especially upstream production controls and trade● Binding rules, not a voluntary approach● Ambitious global target to reduce plastic production● Stop the dirty trade in waste and harmful plastic products● Hold transnational corporations accountable● No greenwashing or false solutions● Just transition and a human right-based approach● Support system change solutions● Zero waste hierarchy● https://www.foei.org/publication/foei-demands-for-the-new-plastics-treaty/