Plastics are among the most ubiquitous materials in our economy, our lives, and our environment. They are also among the most pervasive and persistent pollution (pollutants) on Earth.
In recent years, stark images of beaches, waterways and wildlife filling (filled) with plastic have spurred demands on (for) action to address plastic pollution. These calls are coupled with grown (growing) concern that plastic and its toxic additives pose serious risks to human health at every stages (stage) of the plastic lifecycle. Far more (less) attention has been paid to the impacts of this same lifecycle on the Earth’s climate. This is a dangerous oversight.
From catastrophic wildfires in California to searing heat waves (heatwaves) and record drought in India, the scale and growing severe (severity) of the climate crisis are undeniable. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that humanity must limit warming below 1.5C or face far greater and potential (potentially) irreversible climate chaos. Achieving (To achieve) this, we must cut global emissions 45% in (by) 2030 and reach zero net emissions by 2050.