Context:
Plastic Overshoot Day 2024 report released
Plastic Overshoot Day report:
- Released by – Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action
- Significance – The report comes ahead of the 4th meeting of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Ottawa, Canada
Key Findings:
- In 2024, 220 million tonnes of plastic waste will be created globally.
- Plastic waste has risen by 7.11% since 2021.
- 12 countries are responsible for 60% of world’s mismanaged plastic waste.
- India is among these 12 countries though per capita plastic waste production is among the lowest in the world.
- Country’s expected mismanaged waste in 2024 will be 7.4 million tons, which is “very high”.
- India is estimated to release an average of 3,91,879 tons of microplastics into the environment and 31,483 tons of chemical additives into waterways.
Plastic Overshoot Day:
- The day when the plastic waste produced worldwide will surpass the planet’s waste management systems.
- In 2024, Global Plastic Overshoot Day is projected to occur on September 5th.
- Each country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day determined by the amount of plastic waste generated and the country’s capacity to manage it.
- India is expected to reach its Plastic Overshoot Day on April 23.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis and plasma gasification’ mentioned?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) Extraction of rare earth elements
(b) Natural gas extraction technologies
(c) Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles
(d) Waste-to-energy technologies
Answer: (d)
