As negotiations for a landmark Global Plastics Treaty intensify, a stark new report from The Lancet reveals the profound and growing threat plastics pose to both human and planetary health. Titled the “Countdown on Health and Plastics,” the report issues a grave warning: plastics are an under-recognized danger, responsible for an estimated $1.5 trillion in annual health-related costs worldwide.
The crisis is intrinsically linked to the fossil fuel industry, which is pivoting to plastic production as markets for fossil fuels decline. The report, led by Dr. Philip Landrigan, shows that plastic harms health at every stage of its life cycle–from extraction to disposal–with impacts falling disproportionately on low-income and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, plastic production is a major driver of climate change, releasing 2.4 gigaton of greenhouse gases (GHG) annually–more than the entire emissions of Brazil or Russia.
The Lancet calls for immediate, binding global action, including a cap on plastic production and strict regulation of the thousands of chemicals used in plastics. To track progress, the journal is launching an independent monitoring system, the Lancet Countdown on health and plastics, to hold leaders accountable and forge a path toward a healthier future.
Read the full report to understand the scale of the crisis and the critical steps needed for a solution: The Lancet: Countdown on health and plastics