The statement made by California Governor Gavin Newsom at the Climate Ambition Summit, “The climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis,” stands out in my memory of the UN General Assembly. It’s not difficult.
Plastic pollution is just one of the major climate issues that are largely caused by fossil fuels. The raw material for 99 percent of polymers is fossil fuel. Petrochemicals, commonly referred to as virgin plastics, are what create entirely new plastic feedstocks. They make up 8% and 14% of the world’s total primary demand for petrol and oil, respectively, and are expected to overtake vehicles, aeroplanes and shipping as the leading driver of oil demand in the near future.