For advocates of climate action and environmentalists, scientific consensus is often considered unquestionable. However, new findings have challenged one prevailing belief: the extent of plastic pollution in our oceans.
According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, it appears that the previous estimate of 8 million metric tons of plastic entering our oceans each year is highly exaggerated. The actual figure is a mere 500,000 metric tons. This means that the initial estimate was off by a whopping 1,600%.
Despite this significant revision, concerns about ocean plastic have led to various restrictions on everyday products such as shopping bags, utensils, and straws, often causing inconveniences and unintended consequences.
However, it is unlikely that these new findings will sway the opinions of hardened ideologues. The New York Times, a publication known for its environmental advocacy, openly acknowledged the erroneous estimate but continues to insist that ocean plastic remains a major problem.
While the revised study may suggest a less severe situation, the Times cautioned readers to not dismiss the issue entirely. They warned that within 20 years, the amount of plastic on the sea surface could still double. Interestingly, an earlier Times headline was more straightforward, simply stating that the previous study had overestimated the level of plastics in the oceans.
It is worth noting that the New York Times has a history of altering headlines under pressure from left-leaning factions. However, waste expert John Tierney from the Manhattan Institute highlights that the majority of consumer plastics polluting the oceans come from “mismanaged waste” in developing countries. He further suggests that if Americans disposed of their plastic items properly in landfills, the amount of plastic in the oceans would significantly decrease.
Ironically, US environmentalists tend to oppose the creation of landfills and instead opt to ship their trash to developing nations.
Just like with COVID-19 and global warming, progressive voices often advocate for “following the science.” Yet it is disheartening to see that they do not consistently adhere to this principle in practice.
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