COP27 and plastic emissions
Preparation
Dr. Abdel Moneim Sedky
Professor at research center
 

Ahead of the Climate Summit (COP27) in the coming days, we hope to take binding and firm decisions towards industrialized emitting countries, and plastic is one of the main sources of emissions events, and its danger is increasing day by day. Recycling only about 9% of it, and the rest remains a threat to environmental life on the surface of the earth
The use of plastic has made a breakthrough in the daily life of humans, as it is an integral part of our daily life, as it is included in most things, starting from grocery bags, water bottles, packaging bags and many more. The negative environmental effects and health damage resulting from the excessive use of plastic and its mismanagement cannot be ignored. It does not biodegrade, but breaks into smaller and finer parts and remains present in the environment for a long time. Plastic decomposes emitting chemicals that are dangerous to health, the environment and wildlife. Burning waste that contains plastic leads to the emission of some carcinogenic chemicals such as dioxin, which is toxic to humans. It accumulates in the human body when inhaled by exposure to its vapors. It is also transmitted from the mother to the fetus through the placenta and falls into waterways and on crops when it adheres to dust particles.
According to the United Nations, about one million plastic water bottles are purchased every minute around the world, while the use of single-use plastic bags reaches 5 trillion each year. Plastic materials are used for one time to end up as waste and as a result, pollution occurs, which is called environmental pollution, which is the accumulation of plastic materials to a very large extent in the environment, which leads to harm to the lives of various living organisms as well as humans. The continued growth of emissions in the plastics sector hinders the goal of achieving carbon neutrality
Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic have reached 1.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent and are expected to reach approximately 6.5 gigatons by 2050. Plastic accounts for 85 percent of all marine litter and by 2040 it will nearly triple adding 23-37 million metric tons of waste into the ocean annually. This means about 50 kilograms of plastic per meter of the coastline, threatening the marine environment of plankton, shellfish, fish and turtles with the risk of poisoning, behavioral disturbance and suffocation.

Plastic waste does not decompose until thousands of years have passed, which causes catastrophic damage to the environment, the atmosphere and the health of humans, animals and plants.
Soil damage
Plastic waste does not decompose immediately, which leads to its accumulation in the soil and loses its fertility in the long run. The presence of plastic containers and other waste affects the growth of weeds and plants naturally by blocking sunlight from the soil, which will affect the microorganisms in the soil, which causes an imbalance in the biological composition of the soil
Due to the accumulation of large quantities of waste, some microorganisms abound, which accelerate the process of biological decomposition of plastic materials, which leads to the production of methane, the gas that contributes primarily to the occurrence of global warming. Some countries are working to install devices to collect gas from landfills and use it in the production of Energy, but this matter cannot be applied in all parts of the world, in addition to the impact of groundwater wells with the toxins of plastic waste, and thus become unfit for drinking.
Damage to the marine environment
The oceans are exposed to the danger of plastic waste on the marine environment, which results from the accumulation of plastic bags, food containers and empty containers at the bottom. She eats plastic bags because she thinks they are jellyfish
The waste is divided into several small parts, causing greater damage, represented in the ingestion of fish, which pollutes their tissues and leads to their death. Turtles, whales and seals are the most marine animals affected by plastic waste, as they eat empty bags and containers with their food, and this clogs their digestive channels, which leads to their death. In addition to harming coral reefs, wrapping plastic bags around coral reefs may deprive them of sunlight and renewable water currents that Carry her food and oxygen which leads to her deterioration. The fishing sector is also one of the sectors most affected by plastic waste in the oceans and seas, as this waste gets stuck in fishing nets and other fishing gear, which leads to a loss of fisheries in fisheries and a decrease in seafood stocks in the long run. The presence of plastic waste poses a great danger to the marine navigation process, as it is possible for this waste to enter the propellers of boats and ships, which works to close the water intake valve and thus malfunctions and incurs large financial losses when it is re-maintained.
Damage to animals and birds
Flying plastic bags in pastures and rural areas leads to the death of many of them, such as cows, goats and sheep, as the presence of these bags or part of them leads to blockage of the respiratory system, especially the trachea and lungs, in addition to blockage of the digestive tract of the animals that swallow them, and the result is either disease, loss of appetite or death .
health damage
 The materials used in the manufacture of food containers are exposed to a high temperature. These chemicals can leak into the food and transfer it to humans. There are also many harmful chemicals involved in manufacturingPlastic containers and bags affect human health, such as the risk of developing some cancers, increasing the proportion of fat storage in the body, and increasing insulin resistance
Damage to tourism activity
The presence of plastic waste is undesirable for beachgoers, which leads to a loss of revenues from these beaches, as it may sometimes lead to closing them due to the presence of waste in a large amount, and the process of removing them takes a long time and high financial cost.
Tips to reduce the use of plastic
Environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic
If we want to reduce the severity of the impact of plastic waste on the environment, we must try to provide alternatives to plastic and use them even if they are more expensive and heavier, such as glass. Here are some tips that will reduce the presence of plastic waste in the environment:
• Replace any of the simple plastic products with wooden ones such as clothes hangers and storage shelves
• Using cardboard (carton boxes) instead of plastic as it is easy to recycle and use in new industries
• Eliminating plastic from the daily diet, ie avoiding the use of spoons, plates, cups, drinking straws, and food packaging made of plastic, and replacing them with glass or metal, as it is a sustainable material and does not harm the environment
• Buying a shopping bag made of cloth and putting fruits and vegetables in it instead of bags