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As important as climate change is, plastic and other waste is one of several environmental problems. While it does affect climate in production, it also poisons
by spodek 7y ago
As important as climate change is, plastic and other waste is one of several environmental problems. While it does affect climate in production, it also poisons land, air, and water, kills wildlife and messes up their hormones, us too, and more.
Then there's deforestation, extinctions, topsoil loss, fish depletion, heavy metal pollution, etc.
I distinguish these problems because solving them all is rooted in changing our culture -- primarily our valuing growth and externalizing costs. Replacing those values with enjoying what we have and stewardship, which many civilizations have that lasted far longer than ours has taken to trash the planet, would make a big difference.
This community mostly talks technology, but changing values is probably more important in the long run.
- mantap 7y agoIf you live in a country that has municipal waste collection, the best thing you can do if you are concerned about plastic pollution is: 1. Don't litter. 2. Switch to clothes made wholly from natural fabrics such as wool or cotton. The problem with large pieces of plastic in the oceans is mainly caused by people in developing countries who dispose of their trash by throwing it in a river (because the only other choice is to burn it). That's not to say that people in more developed countries don't also contribute to ocean pollution but in developed countries the pollution mainly comes from washing clothes, as large pieces of plastic are safely disposed of by municipal waste collection.