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  3. The weight of plastic waste clogging the world’s oceans threatens to exceed all fish by 2050 if the world’s seemingly insatiable

The weight of plastic waste clogging the world’s oceans threatens to exceed all fish by 2050 if the world’s seemingly insatiable

admin2019-08-27  25
问题    The weight of plastic waste clogging the world’s oceans threatens to exceed all fish by 2050 if the world’s seemingly insatiable appetite for the material continues at the current explosive rate, warned a new report presented on Tuesday.
   In fact, according to the study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation along with the World Economic Forum, "plastics production has surged over the past 50 years, from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014, and is expected to double again over the next 20 years."
   The study — The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics — introduced at the opening day of the WEF’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland is the first of its kind to comprehensively assess global plastic packaging flows. The report makes an economic case for what it calls the "New Plastics Economy, " described as "a new approach based on creating effective after-use pathways for plastics; drastically reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems, in particular oceans; and decoupling plastics from fossil feedstocks."
   Among the findings, which are based on interviews with over 180 experts and on analysis of over 200 reports, the study estimates that roughly 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year—"which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute." This amount is expected to double by 2030.
   "In a business-as-usual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain 1 tonne of plastics for every 3 tonnes offish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish (by weight), " the report continues.
   What’s more, the report estimates that only 14 percent of plastic packaging is collected for recycling and even less for plastics in general. After sorting, only 5 percent is ultimately retained for subsequent use, which is far below global recycling rates for paper (58 percent) and iron and steel (70-90 percent).
   Further, the report examines the carbon impact of plastics production, given that over 90 percent are derived from "virgin fossil feedstocks." Plastics production represents roughly 6 percent of global oil consumption and "If the current strong growth of plastics usage continues as expected, the plastics sector will account for 20% of total oil consumption and 15% of the global annual carbon budget by 2050."
   The report argues that single-use plastics, and plastic packaging specifically, represents a net loss for the economy, as its limited value is outweighed by these negative impacts. It states:
   After a short first-use cycle, 95% of plastic packaging material value, or USD 80-120 billion annually, is lost to the economy. A staggering 32% of plastic packaging escapes collection systems, generating significant economic costs by reducing the productivity of vital natural systems such as the ocean and clogging urban infrastructure. The cost of such after-use externalities for plastic packaging plus the cost associated with greenhouse gas emissions from its production, is exceeding the plastic packaging industry’s profit pool.
   "Linear models of production and consumption are increasingly challenged by the context within which they operate, and this is particularly true for high-volume, low-value materials such as plastic packaging, " said Ellen MacArthur, an accomplished British yachtswoman turned foundation chair.
   The researchers conclude that in order to get closer to the goal of a "circular economy" — where "consumption happens only in effective bio-cycles; elsewhere use replaces consumption" — both the public and private sector must work towards the goal of creating plastics that can be both recycled and composted.
Which of the following is CORRECT about New Plastics Economy according to the passage?
选项 A、It is an approach based on creating evasive after-use pathways for plastics.
B、It is an approach reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems, in particular lands.
C、It is an approach decoupling plastics from iron feedstocks.
D、It comes from a study introduced at the opening day of the WEF’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland.
答案D
解析 本题为细节分析题。根据第三段“The study—The New Plastics Economy：Rethinking the future of plastics—introduced at the opening day of the WEF’s annual summit in Davos，Switzerland is the first of its kind to comprehensively assess global plastic packaging flows．The report makes an economic case for what it calls the‘New Plastics Economy, ’described as ‘a new approach based on creating effective after-use pathways for plastics；drastically reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems，in particular oceans；and decoupling plastics from fossil feedstocks．’”可知，在瑞士达沃斯举行的世界经济论坛年度首脑会议开幕日上，介绍了“新塑料经济”研究。这是首次全面评估全球塑料包装流程的相关研究。该报告为所谓的“新塑料经济”提供了一个经济案例。它被描述为基于为塑料创造有效使用后途径的一种新方法；大大减少塑料泄漏进入自然系统，尤其是海洋中；从化石原料中分离塑料。A项“它是基于为塑料创造回避使用后途径的一种方法”，根据原文可知，它被描述为一种有效的新方法，而不是回避的方法，因此A项不正确。B项中说尤其是陆地，而原文中说的是海洋，因此，B项与原文不符。C项中“铁矿石原料”，与原文中“化石原料”不符，因此C项不符合原文。D项“它来自瑞士达沃斯举行的世界经济论坛年度首脑会议开幕日上介绍的一项研究”，符合原文意思。因此，D项为正确选项。
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