Plastic pollution: Treaty talks get into the nitty-gritty
Plastic pollution has become a pressing global issue, and representatives from 175 nations gathered in Paris for talks aimed at reaching a historic agreement to address this problem. The talks, which took place at the UNESCO headquarters, aimed to make progress in developing an agreement that covers the entire life cycle of plastics. The head of the negotiations, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velazquez of Peru, acknowledged the immense challenge but emphasized that it was not insurmountable.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the unsustainable production model, where wealthier nations export plastic waste to poorer countries. He described plastic pollution as a time-bomb and emphasized its risks to global warming goals, biodiversity, and human health. Macron stressed the need to reduce plastic production, particularly single-use plastics, which are among the most polluting products.
The scale of the plastic pollution problem is significant, with annual plastic production more than doubling in the past 20 years and projected to triple within four decades. The majority of this production is discarded after single or limited use, with less than 10 percent being recycled. A significant portion ends up as waste, either dumped or burned illegally. Environmental groups have raised concerns about industry lobbying influencing the talks, leading to protests outside the venue.
Plastic pollution has not only affected the environment but has also been found in various ecosystems, from the North Pole to the deep oceans. Microscopic bits of plastic have been detected in humans, including in blood, breast milk, and placentas. Furthermore, plastic contributes to global warming, accounting for 3.4 percent of global emissions in 2019, according to the OECD.
The talks in Paris aimed to narrow down the elements that should be included in the draft treaty text. Policy actions under consideration included a global ban on single-use plastics and production caps on new plastic production. However, there were concerns that the treaty might not include targets for reducing overall plastic production. Some countries, including China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other OPEC nations, favored focusing on recycling and improved waste management rather than absolute cuts in production due to their significant petrochemical industries.
The UN Environment Programme emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic pollution problem, stating that a throwaway plastic culture was causing widespread pollution, damaging ecosystems, contributing to climate change, and harming human health, with the most vulnerable communities being the hardest hit. The head of the program, Inger Andersen, emphasized that recycling alone would not solve the problem.
The Paris meeting was the second of five sessions in the negotiation process. The final treaty is set to be adopted by mid-2025, following additional meetings in 2023 and 2024. Access limitations due to limited space at the venue led to concerns from campaigners, who called for greater public participation in the process.
