Plastics and Pledging
Climate change and plastic waste. 2 hot topics from an environmental perspective, yet quite separate from each other in terms of their interactions & interdependency. Or so it may seem.
In 2013, scientists spent 7 months travelling around the Arctic circle tracking plastic particles in the ocean. They're research estimates that currently "about 300 billion pieces of tiny plastic are suspended in these Arctic waters right now," according to The Washington Post, and the area has been dubbed the “dead end for floating plastics.” This means that the concentration of plastic in these waters is not only expected to increase because of increasing waste, but also because once it gets here, it is unlikely to leave.
It's not fully understood how these microplastics will affect our ecosystem but one thing's for sure; the 8 million tonnes we, mostly North Americans and Europeans, dispose into the ocean each year will slowly creep up the food chain and it will effect us, after many species before are sacrificed.
So climate change; how does that fit into the picture?
Well as the ice melts due to rising temperatures, and then melts further due to the reducing albedo in positive feedback, the pathways are cleared for plastics to move further Northwards. They are able to pass through previous ice barriers, zoning in upon the habitats of polar bears and seals. They are becoming even more vulnerable.
At least you can't have 'plastic deniers' like you can with climate change.
Fun Fact: Where ice melts and flows into the sea, 'freshening' occurs. This is the term used to describe the decrease in the water's salt concentration as the volume of water increases overall. I picture a cool, condensed glass of water glistening on a sunny day, much like those adverts on TV but with water instead...
In this situation, I find the term quite ironic because when the water 'freshens,' it also gets more saturated with our newly man-made plastic pollution.
The purest water turns into a rubbish dump.
So now what? Well, we know about how to combat climate change. It's mentioned constantly in the news; switching to renewable energy suppliers, waste less food, travel less by car. Act local, think global.
For plastic though, it's not that easy. Our developed world practically revolves around the artificial product. It's unavoidable from food packaging to technologies. Car tyres to clothing. Even my pencil case has plastic in it.
But, don't let this be an excuse.
For the whole of June, the Marine Conservation Society is hosting the Plastic Challenge where you can pledge to go a day, week or even the whole month and beyond without the need of any single-use plastics. There are many tips on their website, amongst all the inspiration & facts.
Last year the most ingenious people made their own yoghurts, bread, mouthwash and soaps so as not to waste their single-use containers. Amazing what we can actually do by ourselves!
Almost 1,000 people took part. Let's see if we can double it this time and sign up here.
It's a small step. But that small step shows we care.
H _ M
:)
Bibliography
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/19/humans-have-filled-the-pristine-arctic-ocean-with-300-billion-pieces-of-floating-plastic/?utm_term=.9607f89d476a
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/02/12/humans-are-putting-8-million-metric-tons-of-plastic-in-the-oceans-annually/?utm_term=.75ff2e42b6d1
http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/save-our-seas-by-cutting-out-plastic?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Oktopost-twitter-profile&utm_campaign=Oktopost-2017-05+General+Campaign
http://www.mcsuk.org/plasticchallenge/index.php
In 2013, scientists spent 7 months travelling around the Arctic circle tracking plastic particles in the ocean. They're research estimates that currently "about 300 billion pieces of tiny plastic are suspended in these Arctic waters right now," according to The Washington Post, and the area has been dubbed the “dead end for floating plastics.” This means that the concentration of plastic in these waters is not only expected to increase because of increasing waste, but also because once it gets here, it is unlikely to leave.
It's not fully understood how these microplastics will affect our ecosystem but one thing's for sure; the 8 million tonnes we, mostly North Americans and Europeans, dispose into the ocean each year will slowly creep up the food chain and it will effect us, after many species before are sacrificed.
So climate change; how does that fit into the picture?
 |
| Photo collage of plastic fragments found in the Arctic Ocean https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/w p/2017/04/19/humans-have-filled-the-pristine-arctic- ocean-with-300-billion-pieces-of-float ing-plastic/?utm_term=.9c2de2249909 Credit: Andres Cozar |
At least you can't have 'plastic deniers' like you can with climate change.
Fun Fact: Where ice melts and flows into the sea, 'freshening' occurs. This is the term used to describe the decrease in the water's salt concentration as the volume of water increases overall. I picture a cool, condensed glass of water glistening on a sunny day, much like those adverts on TV but with water instead...
In this situation, I find the term quite ironic because when the water 'freshens,' it also gets more saturated with our newly man-made plastic pollution.
The purest water turns into a rubbish dump.
So now what? Well, we know about how to combat climate change. It's mentioned constantly in the news; switching to renewable energy suppliers, waste less food, travel less by car. Act local, think global.
For plastic though, it's not that easy. Our developed world practically revolves around the artificial product. It's unavoidable from food packaging to technologies. Car tyres to clothing. Even my pencil case has plastic in it.
But, don't let this be an excuse.
For the whole of June, the Marine Conservation Society is hosting the Plastic Challenge where you can pledge to go a day, week or even the whole month and beyond without the need of any single-use plastics. There are many tips on their website, amongst all the inspiration & facts.
Last year the most ingenious people made their own yoghurts, bread, mouthwash and soaps so as not to waste their single-use containers. Amazing what we can actually do by ourselves!
Almost 1,000 people took part. Let's see if we can double it this time and sign up here.
It's a small step. But that small step shows we care.
H _ M
:)
Bibliography
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/19/humans-have-filled-the-pristine-arctic-ocean-with-300-billion-pieces-of-floating-plastic/?utm_term=.9607f89d476a
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/02/12/humans-are-putting-8-million-metric-tons-of-plastic-in-the-oceans-annually/?utm_term=.75ff2e42b6d1
http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/save-our-seas-by-cutting-out-plastic?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Oktopost-twitter-profile&utm_campaign=Oktopost-2017-05+General+Campaign
http://www.mcsuk.org/plasticchallenge/index.php
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