Global plastic production must be reduced rapidly and significantly, Germany's Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection, Steffi Lemke stated during an event organized as part of COP29, Report informs.
According to Lemke, plastics currently account for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions: "By the end of the century, plastic production could double or even triple. This means that emissions will continue to increase. In other words, if we continue to produce and use plastic at this rate, we won't reach our climate goals. We need to reduce plastic production quickly and significantly.”
“The issue isn't just about replacing plastics with single-use paper products. Paper production also requires a lot of energy and valuable wood. The solution is less packaging and, most importantly, reusable packaging. This reduces waste and saves valuable resources," she stated.
The minister added that it's time to reduce resource consumption: "Because the extraction and use of raw materials consumes much water, destroys plants, animals, and habitats. They cause large greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the circular economy should play a bigger role in efforts to combat climate change."