Global Scans · Pollution · Weekly Summary

• [New] Reuse alone could account for two-thirds of a 97% reduction in plastic packaging pollution by 2040. Gizmodo
• [New] Nearly eliminating plastic pollution from the packaging sector and reducing plastic pollution from all major economic sectors by 83% by 2040 is possible with international political attention, commitment of resources and existing technologies, continued innovation, and strategic policy approaches. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Under System Transformation, by 2040, annual combined macroplastic and microplastic pollution falls by 83%, from 280 Mt per year under BAU to 47 Mt per year. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Chemical pollution has crossed a planetary health boundary, and chemical production projections suggest a tripling of chemical production between 2010 to 2050. CAPE
• [New] Millions of fragments orbit the planet, revealing a level of pollution that already threatens the sustainability of the space environment. Noticias Ambientales
• [New] In major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, local governments have announced plans to restrict gasoline-powered motorbikes in central districts starting from 2025-2026, with the goal of reducing air pollution. B-Company
• [New] Plastic pollution will double by 2040 at the current rate. Positive News
• [New] With two-thirds of the world's population projected to live in cities by 2050, urban soils are under increasing pressure from sealing, pollution and unplanned expansion. FAO
• [New] Pakistan faces alarmingly high vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, compounded by escalating air and water pollution. Dawn
• [New] The expansion of liquefied natural gas production in B.C. could add 200 LNG tankers a year over the coming decade, increasing the risk of pollution to already busy shipping lanes in the Georgia and Juan de Fuca straits. vancouversun
• [New] By 2040, System Transformation reduces microplastic pollution entering the environment from the modelled sources by 41%, from 26 Mt under BAU to 15 Mt. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Significant reductions in smoke or pollution could see Africa making more of a contribution to decarbonization. The Pulse
• [New] An ambitious plan for the Northern Territory to become one of the first places in the world to import and store carbon emissions has sparked concern that it could turn Darwin into a dumping ground for the world's climate pollution. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have created wheat plants capable of promoting the formation of their own fertilizer, a development that could lower global air and water pollution and reduce farming expenses. ScienceDaily
• [New] Transport is Australia's fastest-growing sector for climate pollution and is expected to be the top source of emissions by 2030. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] If heat-trapping pollution from burning coal, oil and gas continues unchecked, thousands of hazardous sites across the United States risk being flooded from sea level rise by the turn of the century, posing serious health risks to nearby communities. Insurance Journal
• [New] The Central Pollution Control Board has created strict new standards for sewage treatment plants that will start in 2025. SUSBIO | Sewage Treatment Plant | Packaged STP
• [New] Hosting the UN Ocean Conference in 2028 is expected to enhance South Korea's global standing, allowing it to spearhead international collaboration on crucial ocean issues such as marine plastic pollution and biodiversity. Maritime Fairtrade
• [New] A team of Canadian researchers may have unlocked a major advance in clean energy - one that could make it far easier and far cheaper to convert pollution into valuable fuels and chemicals. The Cool Down
• [New] If global methane emissions increase 5% by 2030, as currently projected under existing environmental regulations rather than non-binding pledges, the additional pollution would drive climate damage with significant negative impacts. Inside Climate News
• [New] As pollution levels rise, thick layers of toxic smog are expected to periodically blanket the Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Crisis zone, as well as nearby cities in North India. MitKat Advisory Services Pvt Ltd

Last updated: 08 December 2025