World Earth Day 2024 | Find out how plastics are affecting the environment

Earth is a beautiful life Sustaining planet in the solar system, it’s roughly 4.5 billion years old and is still exploding with various forms of life on all corners around the world. Life, a concept unknown to the rest of the planets as per our understanding, till now earth is the only planet where life has successfully sustained itself for a longer period. Earth is our home and it is safe to say, it is us.

The Concern

For all those who are ignorant of the global climate changes that are shaping our current landscape, the recent alarming heatwaves in the Deccan regions of Maharashtra would be enough to raise concerns in everyone’s minds. A place like Mumbai was seemingly warming up like never before which became a living example for suburban and commuters living in the city.

Humans have so far warmed the planet 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since preindustrial times, mainly by burning coal, oil, and gas for energy, and by cutting down forests, which help absorb the planet-warming emissions created by fossil fuel use. Humanity is already paying a high price: This year alone, blistering heat waves killed hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest, floods devastated Germany and China, and wildfires raged out of control in Siberia, Turkey, and California. This day is a reminder that sustained collective action is demanded at all costs to deal with this pressing issue.

This Year’s Theme is Planet vs Plastic

Plastic is a product that has invaded its pervasive presence in almost every aspect of a human’s life. From the Packaging of everyday goods to manufacturing intricate components across various industries, plastic’s versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness have made them an indispensable material. Since its first commercial use in 1907, it was hailed as a wonder material that would revolutionize the world.

But little did we know that such a strong demand for plastics would invariably result in drastic environmental calamity that has become one of the most common topics for governments and Scientists to deal with.

How Plastic Affects the Climate?

Plastic production contributes to climate change in several ways, some more obvious than others. One of the main issues with plastic is that it has traditionally been manufactured (bioplastics aside) using fossil fuels as its base material. Plastic is typically made from hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil (petroleum), natural gas, and even coal.

The disposal of plastic waste, often through incineration or in landfills, releases additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Moreover, plastic waste disrupts ecosystems when it finds its way into the natural environment. Plastic waste can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, affecting ecosystems and human health. At a surface level, plastic waste also contributes to the visual degradation of natural landscapes.

It is estimated that globally, eight to ten million tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year strangling marine animals and creating havoc in marine life as they ingest microplastics causing damage to their internal organs.

What can we do?

Many have become aware of the effect plastic waste has on the global environment and several countries have initiated considerable efforts to minimize plastic use and tackle the problem of rising temperatures. Still, we have a long way to go, and human beings as a species have to realize this issue and come together as one only then a possible solution can come out of it.

In the ancient philosophy of Yoga, it is believed that Humans and Earth are experienced as One, if we could inculcate this feeling in all our hearts then we would hopefully move to a more Sustainable Future for us all.