World leaders meeting in Busan, South Korea, to negotiate global plastic pollution treaty
Negotiators from around the world have converged in Busan, South Korea, this week to address the rising global crisis of plastic pollution. The event, led by Norway and Rwanda, has brought together representatives from 66 countries as well as the European Union to establish a global treaty aimed at reducing plastic waste through better regulation of its design, production, consumption, and disposal.
The main aim of the treaty is to take head-on the increasing environmental and climate change challenges caused by plastic pollution. It is within this framework that countries are negotiating towards an agreement that will terminate the production of plastics, which is mainly sourced from fossil fuels. However, opinions vary on how best to approach the challenge. Oil-producing and plastic-manufacturing countries are advocating that more attention be devoted to improving recycling practices, although it is estimated that less than 10% of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced annually are recycled, reports the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Plastics and Climate Change
Plastic pollution is not only an environmental crisis but also directly related to climate change. Most plastic products are produced from fossil fuels. Extraction, manufacturing, and fabrication of plastics account for around 90% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result from plastic production. In the final stages of plastics life – disposal and degradation – there are also considerable GHG emissions.
Discussions around global treaties related to plastic pollution have mainly revolved around the reduction of plastic environmental impacts. Of the plastics made from fossil fuels, plastic pollution and global warming contribute significantly. An end to the plastic crisis is seen as an important part of the solution to mitigating global warming.
A Global Plastics Treaty: Why It’s Needed
In 2022, 175 countries agreed to begin working on a Global Plastics Treaty, recognizing the need for urgent action to end plastic pollution and its far-reaching impacts on the environment. Through decades, plastic production has been increasing annually, yet recycling efforts have not been as swift. By 2015, only 9% of all plastic waste ever created had been recycled. The difference in production and recycling has led to the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment at a high rate with resultant effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
The crisis of plastic pollution is not limited to developed nations. Huge investments are required for the fight against plastic pollution, especially in developing countries. New strategies would have to come into play to close the investment gap by better distribution of resources and increased involvement of the private sector, bringing resources along with specific requirements of individual countries towards their final success in global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
The Scale of the Problem
Every year, around 19 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the natural environment. Severe risks, even fatal, threaten the life of wildlife as a result of plastic pollution. The issue will solely grow and destroy biodiversity and ecosystems unless checked. Therefore, a worldwide overall treaty covering the whole lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal, is expected to be one step in preventing further environmental damage.
The plastic crisis is expected to worsen in the coming decades. In fact, production is only expected to double or even triple by 2040, and this will produce a bulk contribution of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Plastic production could even take up a quarter of the remaining carbon budget needed for limited global warming to 1.5°C. The issue of plastic pollution has gained much importance in order to combat climate change.
The Road Forward: Bargaining and Action
During the negotiations in Busan, the international community seeks to establish an ambitious, legally binding agreement that can address both the environmental and climate-related impacts of plastic pollution. This new international treaty will most likely focus on a mix of measures to reduce plastic production, optimize recycling systems, and increase investment in waste management, particularly in developing countries.
However, the path to a global plastics treaty will not be easy. While many countries and organizations are committed to addressing plastic pollution, key stakeholders, such as oil-producing countries and plastic manufacturers, may push for compromises that focus more on recycling rather than reducing plastic production. Finding common ground on these issues will be essential to crafting a treaty that can have a meaningful impact on the global plastic pollution crisis.
Conclusion
The three-day sessions in Busan mark an important moment in the global fight against plastic pollution and climate change. As world leaders work toward a global plastics treaty, it is clear that coordinated, collective action has never been more pressing. With plastic production projected to leap by leaps and bounds in the coming decades, immediate steps have to be taken to reduce the amount of plastic being fed into the environment and limit its contribution to climate change.
The success of the global plastics treaty will depend on the willingness of countries to make bold commitments to reduce plastic production, improve recycling, and invest in sustainable solutions. A concerted effort by the global community can help curb the environmental and climate-related impacts of plastic pollution and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Busan 2024 Summit