Context: More than 170 countries have converged in Busan, Republic of Korea, to negotiate a new legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, including marine pollution. This is the fifth (and final) round of talks since 2022, when the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA) agreed to develop such a by the end of 2024. The UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) intergovernmental negotiation committee (INC) is leading the negotiations.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Facts about Plastic pollution, Key provisions of Global Plastic Treaty (once it is finalised)
Mains: Impacts of Plastic pollution/ Need for a Global Plastic Treaty
Need for a Global Plastic Treaty:
- A global treaty to end plastic pollution is crucial to address the growing crisis of plastic pollution, which impacts the environment, human health, and contributes to climate change.
1. Rapidly Increasing Plastic Production and Waste:
- Production surge: Annual global production of plastic has doubled from 234 million tonnes (mt) in 2000 to 460 mt in 2019, and is expected to reach 700 mt by 2040.
- Nearly half of this was produced in Asia, followed by North America (19%) and Europe (15%).
- India contributes to a fifth of global plastic pollution. It accounts for 20% of the world’s global plastic pollution with emissions of 9.3 mt
- Challenge of Waste management: About 400 mt of plastic waste is generated annually, a figure expected to jump by 62% between 2024 and 2050. However, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled globally.
- Plastic takes anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose.
2. Environmental and Health Impact:
- Microplastics pollution: Plastic waste often leaks into the environment, especially into rivers and oceans, where it breaks down into smaller particles (microplastic or nanoplastic), harming ecosystems and food chains.
- Health risks: Exposure to chemicals in plastics can cause endocrine disruption and a range of human diseases including cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurodevelopmental impairment.
- Ecosystem damage: Marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species are severely affected by plastic pollution.
3. Contribution to Climate Change:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: In 2020, plastic production accounted for 3.6% of global emissions, with most emissions arising from fossil-fuel-based plastic production. If trends continue, emissions from production could increase by 20% by 2050.
4. Need for global coordination and standards:
- Transnational nature of pollution: Plastic pollution does not respect borders; coordinated international action is essential.
- Comprehensive life-cycle approach: Negotiations aim to establish rules covering the entire plastic lifecycle, from production and usage to disposal and recycling.
Key Negotiation Points:
- Production caps vs. Waste management:
- Conflict: Oil and gas-rich countries resist production limits, favoring downstream measures (e.g., improved waste management).
- Advocates for limits: Rwanda, Peru, and the EU propose ambitious reduction targets, such as Rwanda's call for a 40% reduction by 2040.
- Harmful Chemicals:
- Scientific basis needed: Countries like India stress domestic regulation and scientific validation before excluding specific chemicals.
- Financial and technical support:
- Developing nations emphasize the need for financial resources, technology transfer, and technical assistance to manage plastic waste effectively.
- Private funding: UNEP suggests increasing private sector investment aligned with treaty goals.
- Just transition: Ensuring livelihoods of workers in plastic-related industries are protected during the transition away from plastics.
India’s Position: India has taken the following position:
- Against production limits: India opposes restrictions on polymer production, emphasising innovative waste management. According to India, any restrictions are beyond the mandate of the UNEA’s resolution adopted at Nairobi in 2022.
- Context-sensitive regulation: India advocates for nationally driven, pragmatic decisions reflecting domestic circumstances.
- On the exclusion of harmful chemicals used for plastic production, India has said that any decision should be based on scientific studies, and the regulation of such chemicals should be regulated domestically.
- India banned the use of single-use plastics covering 19 categories in 2022. However, the decision on the issue of including certain plastic items for phase-out in the final treaty should be pragmatic.
- Focus on financial support: India has stressed on including financial and technical assistance, and technology transfer in the substantive provisions of any final treaty for equitable implementation.
Conclusion and the way forward:
A global plastic treaty aims to create legally binding frameworks to curb plastic pollution at its source, establish recycling standards, and ensure environmental and social equity. Harmonising international efforts is crucial for meaningful, long-term solutions to the global plastic crisis.