EDITORIALS FROM 15th Sep 2025
EDITORIAL 01
Positioning India in an unruly world
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EDITORIAL 02
How serious is the global plastic pollution crisis?
Issue: Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most severe global environmental crises, threatening ecosystems, climate stability, and human health. The 2024 focus of World Environment Day – “Ending Plastic Pollution” – underlines the urgency of coordinated global action.
How Serious is the Issue?
- Scale of production: Plastics doubled between 2000–2019, reaching 460 MT, while waste rose to 353 MT (OECD, Global Plastic Outlook).
- Low recycling rates: Only 9% recycled, 19% incinerated, 50% landfilled, 22% leaked into the environment.
- Ocean pollution: 11 MT annually enter oceans; UNEP warns oceans may contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
- Future projection: Plastic waste could triple to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.
Why is it a Grave Problem?
- Non-biodegradable: Breaks into micro- and nano-plastics contaminating soil, water, and even human food chains.
- Climate link: Plastics account for 3.4% of GHG emissions; could consume 19% of carbon budget by 2040.
- Biodiversity threat: Eutrophication, entanglement, and ingestion reduce species survival.
What are its Health Impacts?
- Toxic additives: Carcinogens, neurotoxicants, endocrine disruptors leach into environment.
- Bioaccumulation: Microplastics detected in blood, placenta, breast milk.
- Reproductive harm: Documented decline in fertility and hormonal disruption in animals.
- Medical consensus: 18 million health professionals (88 countries) urged negotiators for urgent action.
What can be done?
- Global framework: UNEA-5 (2022) resolution → binding treaty by 2025.
- UNEP target: Reduce plastic waste by 80% in 20 years via redesign, reuse, better waste management.
- Domestic actions: Ban single-use plastics, enforce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
- Economic tools: Landfill/incineration taxes, deposit-refund schemes, pay-as-you-throw.
- Technology & innovation: Improve recycling, scale up biodegradable alternatives.
- Behavioural shift: Promote past eco-friendly practices; media to drive awareness.
EDITORIAL 03
Strategies for emerging markets at a time when protectionism is rising
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EDITORIAL 04
In Manipur, beyond optics