The battle against climate change typically focuses on fossil fuels alongside deforestation and industrial pollution. Electronic waste which is also called e-waste remains a crucial issue that gets ignored. My studies in Environmental Science show me that the increasing electronic waste piles continue to speed up global warming even though the world focuses its attention on carbon footprint reduction and renewable energy. Reflect on the number of cell phones you have used during the past ten years.

Where did they all go? These products likely concluded their journey by being disposed in landfills or through unsafe dismantling operations in developing nations. Our addiction to new technology combined with our lack of proper recycling efforts creates a growing environmental disaster which people choose to ignore. E-waste describes all disposed electronic devices including smartphones and laptops together with batteries and refrigerators. The Global E-Waste Monitor reports that e-waste production reached 50 million metric tons in 2022 while predicting substantial future increases. The formal recycling of this waste amounts to only 20% while the remaining 80% ends up in landfills or is incinerated or processed in the informal sector. Most e-waste ends up in landfills while the rest is either burned or processed informally in hazardous conditions.

E-waste plays an undeniable role in climate change although many people consider it merely a waste management issue. Here's how:

1.  The purchase of new electronic devices creates enormous carbon emissions during production. The production process for electronic devices demands extraction of rare earth metals including lithium and cobalt and nickel. The extraction process of these metals results in both water contamination and substantial carbon emissions and deforestation damage. A single smartphone requires 85 kilograms of CO2 emissions during its production process. Billions of devices manufactured yearly result in a devastating impact on the environment.
2. The process of improper e-waste disposal creates toxic emissions by releasing lead, mercury and cadmium into the environment through air and soil and water contamination. Children in India and Ghana operate in informal recycling facilities where they handle old computers to extract metal scraps while inhaling dangerous chemicals from the burning waste. The toxic emissions from improper e-waste disposal create two-fold damage by hurting workers and intensifying atmospheric pollution which accelerates climate change.
3. The emission of greenhouse gases and methane occurs from electronic components in refrigerators and air conditioners because they contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The improper disposal of these devices leads to atmospheric gas leakage which substantially increases global warming. HFCs have the ability to trap heat at levels that exceed carbon dioxide by thousands of times.
4. Developing nations face an escalating e-waste problem because people choose to ignore it. The global crisis of e-waste primarily affects countries that are still developing. Wealthier countries send their discarded electronics to Ghana and Nigeria and India which function as their waste dumping sites. The unsafe dismantling of unusable electronic devices releases toxic chemicals which contaminate local ecosystems and worsen global emissions. The people who live near e-waste dumps face daily exposure to toxic water and polluted air in their communities. The toxic substances from pollution cause dual damage to human wellness while damaging agricultural production and biodiversity which creates further environmental instability in areas affected by climate change.
5. E-waste leads to dual pollution effects because it pollutes both the air and water supplies. The heavy metals lead and arsenic seep into groundwater systems which results in contaminated drinking water sources. Farmers who unknowingly use water with toxic chemicals for irrigation face health emergencies that spread across multiple generations. The toxic substances from pollution cause dual damage to human wellness while damaging agricultural production and biodiversity which creates further environmental instability in areas affected by climate change.

Environmental science students like myself believe that dismissal of the e-waste crisis will lead to an accelerated climate change. Multiple levels require immediate implementation of concrete solutions to address the situation.

Every Government needs to adopt rigorous laws that force tech companies to take responsibility for their product recycling through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems.

Every person has individual responsibilities alongside the collective need to increase public understanding about this issue. Take time to evaluate if your current phone is functional before buying the newest model. The amount of e-waste can be dramatically minimized when devices are repaired and receive proper refurbishment before complete recycling.

Sustainable electronic technology demands research from the tech industry for developing electronic devices that degrade naturally and feature modular designs. The world requires immediate attention to e-waste issues. Renewing energy sources alongside fossil fuel reductions must accompany e-waste reduction as foundational elements in climate action plans. Emissions from global pollution increase with every device that goes to waste without proper recycling. Before you decide to buy a new phone evaluate the real price you will pay for this choice. People and industries alongside governments need to embrace e-waste management responsibilities within the existing climate change framework. Our failure to act in the present moment will result in throwing away electronics along with our future possibilities.

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