Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations
The representatives from over 190 countries will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for negotiations on the first-ever Global Plastics Treaty. The aim is to establish a legally binding framework to end plastic pollution, including marine pollution.
Key Objectives
- Address plastic pollution at all stages, from production using oil and gas to waste disposal and recycling challenges.
- Resolve disagreements from the previous meeting in Busan, South Korea, focusing on:
- Capping the production of polymers.
- Eliminating harmful chemicals from plastic production.
- Phasing out harmful plastic products.
Progress and Challenges
- The draft treaty currently contains 370 brackets, indicating unresolved agreements among countries.
- The treaty aims to be the most significant environmental agreement since the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Plastic Production and Pollution Statistics
- Global annual plastic production doubled from 234 million tonnes in 2000 to 460 million tonnes in 2019.
- Plastic waste increased from 156 million tonnes in 2000 to 353 million tonnes in 2019.
- If no changes are made, production might triple by 2060.
Health and Environmental Impact
- A Lancet report indicates plastics cause diseases and death from infancy to old age.
- Plastics contribute to health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually.
Significance and Advocacy
- Civil society and environmental campaigners view the negotiations as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to curb plastic pollution.
- They demand significant reductions in plastic production.
