The immediate need for eradicating plastic waste pollution
The world is gathered in Geneva for the International Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) conference, a crucial meeting aimed at finalizing a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. This treaty, if successful, would address the full life cycle of plastics, from design and production to disposal, in an effort to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution.
However, the road to this agreement has been fraught with challenges. The negotiations have been fractious, with oil- and petrochemical-producing countries and industry-aligned actors pushing to weaken or narrow obligations. This resistance to stronger measures has been a recurring theme in previous rounds of discussions, contributing to their failure to reach agreement.
Scientists view plastic pollution as a serious and growing threat to human and planetary health. The failure of the Geneva negotiations could lead to a heavy disappointment, given the global scale of the issue at hand. Thousands of chemical substances used in plastic production are considered highly dangerous to health, and plastic waste fragments, degrades, and infiltrates air, rivers, food, and bodies, threatening ecosystems and human health. Plastic production could double to reach one billion tonnes per year by 2050, and the global recycling rate is less than 10%. As a result, plastic is responsible for tens of thousands of illnesses and deaths each year.
The Geneva conference is a catch-up session, following the failure of discussions held in South Korea in December 2024. The conference is high-stakes, with some delegations seeking to preserve the ambitious 2040 end-plastic-pollution aim, while others push to narrow the treaty's scope. The risk of another failed round of talks on plastic pollution appears high.
The world is divided on how to tackle this crisis. Some advocates push for a treaty that includes a global reduction in plastic production and consumption, while others prefer a focus on waste management and recycling. The UN rule requires adoption of a text by consensus, but a vote limited to voluntary states is being considered. China, the world's largest producer and consumer of plastic, prefers voluntary national commitments.
The adoption of an ambitious text by a vote limited to voluntary states could lead to pressure from consumers on producers. This pressure could potentially drive change, even in countries that initially resist stronger measures. For instance, China, a potential champion of plastic alternatives, could find an interest in a compromise.
The failure of the Geneva discussions would mark a serious setback for the health of the planet and its inhabitants, particularly the poorest. An article published in The Lancet confirms that all humans are affected by plastics, including workers, nearby populations, and consumers. The health of the planet and its inhabitants hang in the balance as the Geneva negotiations continue.
References:
- World Economic Forum overview of INC-5.2 [2]
- EU statement on participation and ambition [3]
- NGO/Campaigner statements and analysis reporting industry and producer influence and warning that negotiations were off track [1][4]
- The Geneva negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty are crucial as the health of both humans and the planet is under threat, with plastic pollution being a significant issue in health-and-wellness and environmental-science.
- The deadlock in the Geneva discussions is concerning, given that scientists view plastic pollution as a growing threat to human and planetary health, causing tens of thousands of illnesses and deaths each year.
- If the Geneva negotiations fail to finalize a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, it would be a setback for climate-change mitigation efforts, as plastic production and waste contribute to climate-change due to their carbon footprint throughout the entire life cycle.
