https://theconversation.com/climate-change-obsession-with-plastic-pollution-distracts-attention-from-bigger-environmental-challenges-111667
[There are a lot of smart people on the planet, and a lot of resources -
even if we question how we're using them. It does not have to be a
question of either-or.
links and images in online article]
Climate change: obsession with plastic pollution distracts attention
from bigger environmental challenges
February 21, 2019 6.30am EST
By now, most of us have heard that the use of plastics is a big issue
for the environment. Partly fuelled by the success of the BBC’s Blue
Planet II series, people are more aware than ever before about the
dangers to wildlife caused by plastic pollution – as well as the impact
it can have on human health – with industries promising money to tackle
the issue.
Single use plastics are now high on the agenda – with many people trying
to do their bit to reduce usage. But what if all of this just provides a
convenient distraction from some of the more serious environmental
issues? In our new article in the journal Marine Policy we argue plastic
pollution – or more accurately the response of governments and industry
to addressing plastic pollution – provides a “convenient truth” that
distracts from addressing the real environmental threats such as climate
change.
Yes, we know plastic can entangle birds, fish and marine mammals – which
can starve after filling their stomachs with plastics, and yet there are
no conclusive studies on population level effects of plastic pollution.
Studies on the toxicity effects, especially to humans are often
overplayed. Research shows for example, that plastic is not as great a
threat to oceans as climate change or over-fishing.
More easily fixed?
Taking a stand against plastic – by carrying reusable coffee cups, or
eating in restaurant chains where only paper straws are provided – is
the classic neoliberal response. Consumers drive markets, and consumer
choices will therefore create change in the industry.
Alternative products can often have different, but equally severe
environmental problems. And the benefits of these small-scale consumer
driven changes are often minor. Take, for example, energy-efficient
light bulbs – in practice, using these has been shown to have very
little effect on a person’s overall carbon footprint.
But by making these small changes, plastic still appears to be an issue
we can address. The Ocean Cleanup of plastic pollution – which aims to
sieve plastic out of the sea – is a classic example. Despite many
scientists’ misgivings about the project and its recent failed attempts
to collect plastic the project is still attractive to many as it allows
us to tackle the issue without having to make any major lifestyle changes.
The real issue
That’s not to say plastic pollution isn’t a problem, rather there are
much bigger problems facing the world we live in – specifically climate
change.
In October last year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) produced a report detailing drastic action needed to limit global
warming to 1.5˚C. Much of the news focused on what individuals could do
to reduce their carbon footprint – although some articles did also
indicate the need for collective action.
Despite the importance of this message, environmental news has been
dominated by the issues of plastic pollution. So it’s not surprising
that so many people think ocean plastics are the most serious
environmental threat to the planet. But this is not the case. In 2009
the concept of planetary boundaries was introduced to indicate safe
operating limits for the Earth from a number of environmental threats.
Three boundaries were shown to be exceeded: biodiversity loss, nitrogen
flows and climate change. Climate change and biodiversity loss are also
considered core planetary boundaries meaning if they are exceeded for a
prolonged time, they can shift the planet into new, less hospitable,
stable states.
These “clear and present dangers” of climate change and biodiversity
loss could undermine the capacity of our planet to support over seven
billion people – with the loss of homes, food sources and livelihoods.
It could lead to major disruptions of our ways of life – by making many
areas uninhabitable due increased temperatures and rising sea levels.
These changes could start to happen within the current century.
Lifestyle overhaul
This is not to distract from the fact that some significant steps have
been taken to help the planet environmentally by reducing plastic waste.
But it is important not to forget the need for large-scale systemic
changes needed internationally to tackle all environmental concerns.
This includes longer-term and more effective solutions to the plastic
problem – but also extending to more radical large-scale initiatives to
reduce consumption, decarbonise economies and move beyond materialism as
the basis for our well-being.
The focus needs to be on making the way we live more sustainable by
questioning our overly consumerist lifestyles that are at the root of
major challenges such as climate change, rather than a narrower focus on
sustainable consumer choices – such as buying our takeaway coffee in a
reusable cup. We must reform the way we live rather than tweak the
choices we make.
There is a narrow window of opportunity to address the critical
challenge of, in particular, climate change. And failure to do so could
lead to massive systemic impacts to the Earth’s capacity to support life
– particularly the human race. Now is not the time to be distracted by
the convenient truth of plastic pollution, as the relatively minor
threats this poses are eclipsed by the global systemic threats of
climate change.
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Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)
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