Surge in oil, gas use to make polymers: Study
Ahead of the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution to be held later this month in Canada, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report flagged that companies have started increasing oil and gas production for polymers, in anticipation of a serious response to climate crisis that could curb the production of fossil fuels.
The global report titled “Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations” also highlighted that India, Russia, United States of America, China in certain cases, are not agreeable to reducing primary plastic polymer production; reducing chemicals from polymer production; or phasing out single use plastic.
This is based on analysis by
CSE researchers of submissions made by countries during negotiations.China is the largest plastic producer followed by rest of Asia and North America while the US is the largest producer of oil followed by Saudi Arabia; Russia and Canada.
India has a progressive stance on the use of alternative plastics; use of recycled plastic content; product design and performance focused on increasing reusability, repairability and recyclability. But, it has made it clear that all measures will be nationally driven, taking international standards into account, the report pointed out. The CSE report has also highlighted that leading state-owned and private crude oil and gas producers have been increasing the output of primary (virgin) plastics in anticipation that a serious global response to climate change might reduce demand .
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), up to 99% of plastics are made from polymers derived from non-renewable hydrocarbons (crude oil and natural gas). Polymers, commonly known as plastics, are larger units of smaller molecules (monomers) that are joined together by chemical bonds.
“Although plastic is often seen as a separate issue from climate change, its production, use, distribution and disposal are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Together, these processes contributed about 1.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) or approximately 3.4 per cent of global GHG emissions in 2019. Plastic production alone accounted for 90% of these emissions,” the report said.
“We should address the full life cycle of plastics and not have a myopic view of seeing plastics as a litter or waste problem alone,” said Atin Biswas, programme director, Municipal Solid Waste, CSE during the launch of the report on Wednesday.
HT sought Union environment ministry’s response on why India is agreeable only to downstream measures focusing on waste management (including collection, sorting and transportation), recycling/ processing, and disposal methods but not reducing polymer production.
MoEFCC did not respond immediately.