Global Scans · Pollution · Weekly Summary

• [New] Pascual raised the cost of plastic pollution for society, namely that global management of plastic waste costs $32 billion each year, and that the societal lifetime cost of the plastic projected to be produced in 2040 could reach $7.1 billion. The National Academies Press
• [New] Strong standards that reduce climate pollution to the levels required by law will deliver cleaner air, lower energy bills, and more resilient communities across New York State. Environmental Defense Fund
• [New] The global shipping industry is responsible for around 3% of global planet-heating pollution annually, a figure that could rise to 17% by 2050 if no action is taken. CNN
• [New] A heat wave similar to last year's Southwestern United States and Mexico heat wave could be 1.7 °C hotter by the end of the century under the current carbon pollution trajectory. Euronews
• [New] Rising tractor numbers have led to increased air pollution, with emissions from agricultural machinery projected to exceed road vehicle emissions by 2030. / India Ekam IAS Academy
• [New] The top five states with the most polluting facilities-Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Illinois - each have 32 or more facilities expected to emit more cancer-causing pollution. Center for American Progress
• [New] The top 10 states with the most polluting facilities that are exempted from toxic air pollution limits and/or are expected to run more as environmental protections are stripped away are Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Center for American Progress
• [New] Toxic air pollution emitted from the oil and gas sector alone puts 14 million people in the United States at increased risk of cancer. Center for American Progress
• [New] Self-driving cars could eliminate up to 25% of carbon dioxide pollution. Yahoo Finance
• [New] The Dominican Republic unveiled its National Plastic Action Roadmap, supported by the GPAP, which sets a path to 53% circularity and 87% reduction in plastic pollution by 2040. European Business Magazine
• [New] Investments made through RGGI in 2023 alone will prevent 7.7 million tons of climate pollution in the long run - as much as 1.6 million cars produce in a year. Vital Signs
• [New] Air pollution is one of the world's leading health risks, contributing to nearly 1 in 8 deaths globally. EurekAlert!
• [New] Air pollution is the world's largest environmental health threat, causing 8.1 million premature deaths every year. Clean Air Fund
• [New] The Trump administration's plan for 30 more massive lease sales over the next 15 years could lead to nearly 10.8 billion tons of additional carbon in our atmosphere, or more than two years of total annual U.S. carbon pollution. Earthjustice
• With millions of tons of PET produced every year, improving recycling efficiency could significantly reduce plastic pollution and help protect ecosystems worldwide. Futurity
• Air pollution linked to climate change was responsible for more than eight million premature deaths globally in a single year, making it the second-leading risk factor for death globally. Climate Week
• Preventable Deaths: About half of global disease burden could be reduced by addressing modifiable risk factors-high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, air pollution, and high blood sugar. Medbound Times
• Risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and air pollution play a major role in driving chronic disease - and if they were addressed, nearly half of all deaths and disability globally could be prevented. Euronews
• Military spending increases from NATO could lead to a major rise in planet-warming pollution. Yahoo News
• At African Energy Week 2025, Angola will present an innovative solar-powered system designed to mitigate coastal and marine pollution. PVKnowhow
• By 2026 environmental health will be a core focus in diabetes care, with 25% of treatment plans incorporating pollution reduction strategies (ADA, 2025). DiabetesRxUSA

Last updated: 27 October 2025