Global Plastics Treaty – We’re Still Mopping The Floor While The Tap Continues To Run

Delegations once again gathered in Nairobi this July to resume negotiations on the formation of a global plastics treaty, amid continuing disagreements on what is to be included. While some delegates reported “incredibly positive” engagement from this latest round of negotiations, several nations continue to push the proposal of a waste-only treaty, overlooking the compounding issues surrounding plastics such as chemicals and new plastics production. The exclusion of such issues was even noted prior to in-person negotiations, with many delegates highlighting their omission from proposals and guiding questions circulated to attendees beforehand.

Such pressure against the curbing of new plastics production, in particular, comes predominantly from larger petrochemical-producing nations, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India, who ultimately argue that focus should solely be on the management of existing plastic waste. This has had further implications on negotiations, scaling back the ambitions of many other nations to vague limitations of production to “sustainable levels”.

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While any progress on the curbing of plastics pollution and its ecological implications is welcomed, many delegates, scientists,and experts overwhelmingly agree that simply tackling waste is far from enough; the full life cycle of plastics must be considered to ensure a robust response, especially concerning marine plastic pollution.

Further, following this latest round of negotiations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has highlighted the importance of financial considerations when implementing any plastics treaty proposals, stating the treaty’s effectiveness will depend “not only on the ambition of its substantive obligations, but also on the availability of adequate, predictable, accessible and sustainable financial resources”. This will prove especially crucial for ensuring many developing nations, which are frequently also recipients of wealthier nations’ waste, are able to achieve the goals of a global plastics treaty.

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For more information contact: info@scarabtrust.org.uk

Image: Greenpeace Philippines protest banner - Image courtesy of Daniel Müller / Greenpeace (ST ref: 1158)