India has emerged as the world’s largest plastic polluter, contributing nearly one-fifth of global plastic emissions, according to a new study highlighting the environmental crisis in the country. Experts attribute this to inadequate waste management infrastructure and fragmented policies that are challenging to enforce.
The study, published in the scientific journal Nature by researchers from the University of Leeds, found that out of the 50.2 million metric tonnes of plastic waste emitted globally each year, India accounts for around 9.3 million tonnes.
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Ed Cook, one of the study’s researchers, noted that the amount of municipal solid waste burned in India is comparable to the combined totals of Indonesia, Nigeria, China, and Russia. Despite these alarming figures, the study suggests India’s actual plastic emissions may be underestimated, further underscoring the severity of the crisis.
