How Does Chemical Production Contribute to Climate Change?

The Chemical Industry’s Role in Climate Change

Did you know that the chemical industry – an industry that produces many of the ingredients found in products we use every day – is one of the largest contributors to climate change? In fact, green house gas emissions from chemical production in the United States has gone up a staggering 43% (between 1990-2019)!

Women’s Voices for the Earth is a proud member of Coming Clean, a coalition of environmental health and justice organizations working to reform the chemical and energy industries to protect the health and well-being of people and the planet. Coming Clean recently updated the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals. The charter was created nearly 20 years ago and serves as a roadmap for transforming the chemical industry. The charter centers those who are most disproportionately impacted by chemical exposure, like those living at the fenceline next to polluting facilities. Chemical and petrochemical facilities are predominantly situated in low-income communities and communities of color, and thus bear the burden of exposure to chemicals that are produced for use in products used in homes throughout America.

The Charter highlights the radical changes that need to be made to the chemical industry, including the chemical industry’s often overlooked contributions to climate change. One of the Charter’s planks is Address the Significant Impacts of Chemical Production and Use on Climate Change, and includes an excellent background paper that details the ways the chemical industry is responsible for fueling climate change. The background paper was written by Coming Clean members Darya Minovi on behalf of the Center for Progressive Reform with contributions from Al Huang with Coming Clean and NRDC. This blog summarizes that background paper (please see background paper for citations) and offers actions people can take to hold the chemical industry accountable.

Although most folks probably don’t give it much thought, we are all impacted by the chemical industry on a daily basis. The chemical industry is made up of the companies that manufacture the chemicals that make up the products that we use every day. This includes plastics, fertilizers, adhesives, colorants, fragrances, cosmetic ingredients and more. While many of us are aware of the potential impacts toxic chemicals can have on our bodily health & environment when we are using products — all the production of these chemicals also contributes significantly to climate change and the health of our planet.

How Does Chemical Production Contribute to Climate Change?

Chemical production primarily contributes to climate change in 3 ways:

1. The use of fossil fuels as feedstock (or raw materials) for products such as plastics, chemicals, and pesticides
2. The use of fossil fuels for energy production to manufacture chemicals
3. The production of chemicals that are potent greenhouse gases

Fossil fuels are the basis/feedstock of many chemicals

Most chemicals and petrochemicals used in products come from 7 chemicals that are made up of oil and gas (aka petrochemicals). These 7 chemicals are pretty much the building blocks of most other chemicals and include:

1. Ethylene
2. Propylene
3. Benzene
4. Toluene
5. Xylene
6. Ammonia (mostly used in nitrogen fertilizers)
7. Methanol (mainly used to produce the carcinogen formaldehyde)

The production of these chemicals has increased over the years. Production of so-called “high-value chemicals” like Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene production has increased by 19%, while ammonia and methanol have increased by 13% and 51% respectively. Fertilizers and plastics account for a whooping 70% of petrochemical production, by mass.

The chemical industry is one of the largest industrial users of energy

The chemical industry is a significant consumer of energy produced by oil and gas. The sector accounts for 28% of industrial energy use and 10% of total energy use and is responsible for almost 1/5 (or 18%) of global industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Green house gas emissions from chemical production in the United States has gone up a staggering 43% (between 1990-2019). Compared to the 22% decrease in green-house gas emissions from all industrial sources between 1990-2019 — it is clear the chemical industry is not pulling its weight. And the demand for petrochemicals could account for more a third of the growth in oil demand predicted by 2030.

Chemicals that are potent greenhouse gases

Many chemicals that are manufactured contribute to the release of greenhouse gases. Fluorinated gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride) are released in industrial processes and can also be found in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment. Fluorinated gases are potent greenhouse gases that have significantly higher global warming impact than carbon dioxide.

Solutions

For far too long the chemical industry has avoided the scrutiny it deserves as a significant contributor to climate change. In order to protect public health and the health of the planet, there needs to be a major transformation of the chemical industry, one that centers the needs of people who are most vulnerable to impacts of chemical production and climate change like those communities living at the fenceline.

Major shifts include:

1. Phase out the use of fossil fuels used to produce the energy to manufacture chemicals & phase out the manufacturing of chemicals that release greenhouse gases.
2. Eliminate the use of fossil fuels as feedstocks for chemicals—invest significant research and development into green chemistry. There has been little innovation in the chemical industry since the advent of chemical manufacturing because there has been little incentive to do so. More political and public pressure is needed to make this happen.
3. Stop the expansion of single use plastics and more strictly regulate the production of plastic and plastic recycling.

What you can do:

1. Show your support and endorse the Louisville Charter For Safer Chemicals; you can endorse as an individual, business and/or organization.
2. Take Action. Tell the Department of Energy to stop giving the chemical industry a free pass when it comes to their impact on the health of bodies and our environment.
3. Hold manufacturers accountable for using petrochemical in products. Find a company’s 1-800 number on the label of common household products you use and ask the company to invest in green chemistry.
4. Reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastics.
5. Spread the word! Share this blog with others to let others the chemical industry’s role in climate change.
6. Sign-up for our newsletter to stay updated on this issue and more actions we can take to hold the chemical industry accountable!

“Not one participant admitted to reading ingredient labels on menstruation products. That made me realize that if everyone assumes safety, when products aren’t necessarily safe, it’s a systemic problem.”

It is also clear that stigma eclipses people’s curiosity about period health.

A young woman attending one of Umy’s workshops offered her own solution to the issue of stigma surrounding menstruating bodies: “Don’t keep it a secret. Make it Known.”

This resonated strongly with Umy. While she was breaking down stigmas in her community, she recognized there was an important space she was missing; a space where it was arguably even more crucial and more intimidating to start having honest conversations about menstruation: at home. Umy challenged herself to follow the young woman’s lead and began by disrupting shame within the family space. Risking embarrassment, she made it known to her father that she was having a period. In owning her menstrual experience, Umy offered a gender-affirming and health-centered narrative.

“It was liberating to not have to hide the fact that I was on my period. My dad was like, ‘Ok’ — it turned out better than I thought, and it will be different from now on.”

From an individual’s experience to organic combustion within peer and family circles, the ripple effect sets in motion a shift in perspectives and social norms. In short, small actions build big impact.

And what has that impact looked like this year? At the ecosystem level, WVE remains focused on accountability and legislative efforts. Our team is on task at pressuring companies to prioritize the health of people and the planet over profit, and is collaborating closely with policymakers to pass and implement laws that regulate the use and disclosure of chemicals in products. This year alone, WVE:

• Influenced tampon manufacturers who discontinued the use of fragrances in tampons sold in the US, which means millions of menstruators will no longer be exposed to unnecessary chemicals.
• Co-released new product-testing results that reveal potential harm to vaginal health from intimate care products.
• Released the report, What’s in Your Period Products: An Investigation of Ingredients Disclosed in Period Products, which spotlights the powerful impact of new disclosure policies and practices
• Elevated the artivism showcase prepared by fellows, including Umy, who are countering stigma and raising awareness about ingredient disclosure among their peers.

Together with young activists and emerging leaders, we are disrupting the status quo and making change, because the only acceptable future is a toxic-free one.

The invitation is for you to help make our impact in 2023 our best yet by donating to the “Weaving Strong Leaders” end-of-year campaign. Everything we raise by Dec. 31st is allocated towards programmatic work we’ll do together in the new year. Your donation is also matched by a generous gift of $25,000 from one of our donors. Please consider contributing $50, $150 or even $10,000 and beyond — any amount you deem appropriate is truly impactful.

Visit www.weavingvoices.org. 

Thank you for helping us meet our goal! And thank you for helping ensure young advocates and future leaders like Umy have the resources they need to advance the environmental health movement forward.