Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, affecting nearly every marine and freshwater ecosystem globally. In response, multilevel mitigation strategies are being adopted but with a lack of quantitative assessment of how such strategies reduce plastic emissions. We assessed the impact of three broad management strategies, plastic waste reduction, waste management, and environmental recovery, at different levels of effort to estimate plastic emissions to 2030 for 173 countries. We estimate that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems. Considering the ambitious commitments currently set by governments, annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030. To reduce emissions to a level well below this prediction, extraordinary efforts to transform the global plastics economy are needed.

Publication Type
Journal Article
Authors
Stephanie B. Borrelle
Jeremy Ringma, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Kara Lavender Law, Sea Education Association
Cole C. Monnahan
Laurent Lebreton, Ocean CleanUp
Alexis McGivern, Gallifrey Foundation
Erin Murphy
Jenna Jambeck, UGA
George H. Leonard
Michelle A. Hilleary
Marcus Eriksen, The 5 Gyres Institute
Hugh P. Possingham
Hannah De Frond
Leah R. Gerber
Beth Polidoro
Akbar Tahir, Universitas Hasanuddin
Miranda Bernard, Arizona State University
Nicholas Mallos
Megan Barnes, University of Hawaii
Chelsea M. Rochman
Date
Journal
Science
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