With the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations picking up soon, here’s what you need to know about the hot topic that could change the world:
Nairobi, Kenya (10 November 2023) — By now most of us know that plastics are far from the top of the food chain (sorry, Regina George). Still, plastics are a dominant force of environmental havoc across the world, from micro-form to landfill tons. In the ever-urgent need for global response, world leaders are in their third session of the Global Plastics Treaty. Here’s what the heck that means and why it could change the world.
The Global Plastics Treaty in a Nutshell
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted a decision to start negotiations on a global and legally binding means to end plastic pollution—the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC).
Like most international decisions, it takes a very long time to come to a conclusion on what to do about big problems. But, the INC-3 will bring decision-makers a lot closer to their call on what to do about the global plastic problem and will look at options set out by the zero draft treaty text which was finalised on 1 October.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), some possible scenarios in the fight against plastic pollution are: a business-as-usual response(meaning no intervention or weak obligations), an outright ban on four selected plastic products deemed unnecessary or replaceable by 2025, or a steady phase-out of six plastic products with complete cessation by 2030.
Impacts of Plastic You Might Not Know
Plastic doesn’t just impact the environment and ecosystems (though it does a brilliant job at harming them). It also weighs heavily on socio-economic factors, especially on low and middle-income countries, despite these countries consuming almost three times less plastic per-capita according to a WWF-commissioned report.
The report (based on case studies spanning Brazil, Kenya and Fiji) estimates that the total lifetime costs of a kilogram of plastic is around US$150 in low-and middle-income countries, wich is eight times the US$19/kilogram incurred by high-income countries.
This is just a glance at the costs involved especially for disadvantaged countries, never mind the myriad of problems plastic pollution causes for the planet’s health.
“Our take, make, waste plastics system is designed in a way that unfairly impacts our planet’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged countries. Instead of resolving the world’s plastic pollution crisis in the most efficient way, the system shifts the bulk of the costs to those least equipped to manage them, with no accountability placed on those who produce and use the products in the first place,” says Alice Ruhweza, WWF International’s Senior Director of Policy, Influence and Engagement.
Other Setbacks for Poorer Countries
- Low and middle-income countries don’t have much influence on which plastic products are produced and how they are designed, despite being expected to manage them once they’ve reached their end-of life.
- The rate of plastic production (especially for single-use plastic) is outplacing the resources for waste management
- Plastic production and pollution does not have enough of an accountability body
“We can no longer act as if plastic is a cheap throwaway commodity. It has huge costs for some of the most vulnerable communities who have no power to change the system. Inaction will result in a higher cost for all of us,” adds Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF International’s Plastics Policy Lead.
“Countries must dial up ambition and finalize a treaty with harmonized and binding global rules if we are to achieve an equitable plastic value chain and want a future free from plastic pollution.”
by 