Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 23 hours ago
With plastic production projected to double by 2050, petrochemical use is set to drive future oil demand. This highlights the risks of fossil fuels beyond emissions: plastics can pose lasting health risks through microplastics and toxic additives. Should proponents of the energy transition confront plastics as part of a broader fossil-fuel problem? And what could be done to slow the growth in their production, and manage their waste?
Presentation:
Mike Berners-Lee, Professor in practice, Lancaster University
With plastic production projected to double by 2050, petrochemical use is set to drive future oil demand. This highlights the risks of fossil fuels beyond emissions: plastics can pose lasting health risks through microplastics and toxic additives. Should proponents of the energy transition confront plastics as part of a broader fossil-fuel problem? And what could be done to slow the growth in their production, and manage their waste?
Presentation:
Mike Berners-Lee, Professor in practice, Lancaster University
