Speaker
Description
Since the plastics lifecycle has a significant carbon footprint and emits about 4% of total GHG emissions, the global plastic pollution crisis is becoming a significant challenge to achieve the international target of limiting global temperatures to the climate-safe level of 1.5 degrees (OECD, 2023). Even if anthropogenic GHG emissions were reduced to zero, researchers believe that changes in the climate system and their potential impacts would remain as a result of the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas, and land-use change such as deforestation, agriculture, etc. As one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century, climate change, plastic pollution, global warming, and greenhouse gas emissions are driven by human behavior and thus could be reduced via greener behavioral and lifestyle changes. In the same vein, the IPCC’s sixth assessment report concluded that global emissions can be reduced by 40–70% by 2050 and OECD's report stated that global the ambition to reduce plastic pollution to zero by 2040 (Pörtner et al, 2022, OECD, 2023).
Turkey is among the top producers of plastic waste globally, with one of the highest rates of plastic and total waste production. According to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change of Turkey (2018), plastic bag production in Turkey was around 35 billion pieces per year, with an average individual using approximately 440 plastic bags annually. Despite various efforts, including numerous interventions and events such as climate festivals, concerts, and seminars organized by local municipalities, environmental organizations, and civil initiatives, these attempts had limited success in reducing plastic consumption in Istanbul, Turkey. To raise consciousness, the government introduced mandatory pricing regulations in 2019 as part of its zero-waste project. These regulations aimed to encourage citizens and companies to transition to more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable degradable bags and paper bags. However, how effective these 'top-down' sustainability approach measures are and their long-term consequences have not been examined. In this context, the study aims to discuss the importance of integrating 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' strategies for sustainable policy transition in future cities. Additionally, the research examines the effectiveness of 'top-down' policy approaches by analyzing the changes in plastic bag usage after implementing pricing policies across multiple branches of one of the nation's largest supermarket chains in various districts of Istanbul. This analysis aims to determine the impact of sustainable policy measures on citizen’s behavior within different socio-spatial contexts. Moreover, this study outlines the pivotal role of policy interventions, such as plastic bag charges, in reshaping the lifestyles of citizens towards a more sustainable and livable future, thereby mitigating environmental impact and promoting a responsible consumption culture within cities and communities. While the study results demonstrate significant changes in plastic bag consumption among citizens, it prompts crucial discussion on the sustainability of this change over time. Finally, the research results highlight the importance of local government support, and citizen-centered approaches in the policy-making process while discussing zero waste policy transition.
References
OECD (2023). OECD POLICY HIGHLIGHTS Climate Change and Plastics Pollution, OECD Publishing. Paris. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastics/Policy-Highlights-Climate-change-and-plastics-pollution-Synergies-between-two-crucial-environmental-challenges.pdf (accessed on 31 January 2024).
OECD (2023). Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution By 2040, OECD Publishing. Paris. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastics/Interim-Findings-Towards-Eliminating-Plastic-Pollution-by-2040-Policy-Scenario-Analysis.pdf (accessed on 31 January 2024).
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change of Turkey (2018) Kaynaklı 550 Bin Ton Atığın Oluşması Engellendi, Available at: https://www.csb.gov.tr/dort-yilda-plastik-poset-kaynakli-550-bin-ton-atigin-olusmasi-engellendi-bakanlik-faaliyetleri-37362 (accessed on 31 January 2024).
H.-O. Pörtner, D. C. Roberts, H. Adams, C. Adler, P. Aldunce, E. Ali, R. A. Begum, R. Betts, R. B. Kerr, R. Biesbroek, et al. (2022). “Climate change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability”. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/ (accessed on 31 January 2024).
| Keywords | Plastic pollution; Zero-waste policy; Climate Crisis; Behavioral change; Policy interventions |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
