LETTERS: EVERY minute, some one million plastic bottles are bought. Each year, plastic kills 100,000 marine animals. It is believed that Malaysians consume some nine billion plastics annually, with a huge amount ending up in our oceans.
According to Dutch academic Lourens J.J. Meijer, Malaysia is among the top contributors of plastic pollution in the ocean, ranking third in the world.
A World Wildlife Fund 2022 report said Malaysians used 16.8kg of plastic packaging per person annually. Malaysia, which is rated as the eighth most polluted country in the world, has seen a significant increase in environmental issues associated with plastic waste.
It is estimated that between 0.14 and 0.37 million tonnes of improperly handled plastic garbage from Malaysia end up in the ocean. This is on top of the 0.94 million tonnes of plastic garbage that the nation produces.
One of the primary contributors to climate change is single-use plastics.
Firstly, they are made from fossil fuels, so enormous volumes of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are released into the atmosphere during the production of these plastics. These emissions exacerbate climate change by adding to the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations.
Second, carbon is emitted during the transportation of raw materials to plastic manufacturing facilities and during the distribution of plastic products to end users. This includes emissions from transportation, like trucks, ships and airplanes.
Third, single-use plastics that are thrown away frequently end up in landfills, where their oxygen-starved decomposition releases methane. The strong greenhouse gas methane has a much greater short-term potential for global warming than carbon dioxide.
Fourth, some disposable plastics are burnt to manage waste. Air pollution and climate change are exacerbated by incineration, which releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Fifth, ecosystems and biodiversity are impacted by climate change. Plastic pollution further upsets ecosystems and endanger wildlife, which in turn can further upset carbon cycles and intensify climate change.
One way to reduce the impact of single-use plastics on climate change is to reduce their production and consumption.
Take steps like cutting back on the use of plastic, encouraging the use of reusable alternatives, putting efficient waste management plans into place and switching to more environmentally friendly products and procedures.
Malaysia needs to switch from single-use plastic bags to reusable ones to fulfil its 2030 environmental goals and create a more sustainable and healthy environment.
DR RULIA AKHTAR
Research fellow
Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation),
Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
