By Rasheedat Oladele
On Monday, November 13, 2023, the third round of negotiations among UN Member States commenced, marking a critical step in the quest to formulate a comprehensive and legally-binding global accord aimed at significantly reducing plastic pollution.
The objective is to address the growing environmental and public health concerns associated with the escalating levels of plastic waste.
Plastics Europe, a consortium of plastics producers, has reported a staggering global plastic production of 400.3 million tonnes in 2022, double the figure from 2002.
Despite a rise in the use of bio-based and recycled materials, more than 90% of this production still relies on petroleum-based materials.
Of particular concern is the protracted life cycle of plastic, taking centuries to decompose after manufacturing.
A disconcerting 76% of plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2018 ended up in landfills or the surrounding environment, contributing to the estimated 4.8 million to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic debris dumped into the ocean annually.
The resulting harm to ecosystems through the release of hazardous chemicals and microplastics is alarming.
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The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that a comprehensive global agreement could reduce plastic pollution by 80% by 2040.
Over 170 countries pledged in March 2022 to work towards a legally binding framework covering all aspects of the plastic life cycle, from production quantities to design, recycling, and disposal.
The ongoing negotiations, the third of five planned rounds, follow previous meetings in Uruguay and France. The objective is to finalize the agreement, with a summit of states anticipated in mid-2025.
Notably, negotiators emphasize that the goal is not to demonize or ban plastic but to establish controlled guidelines for the production of specific polymers and regulate the use of hazardous chemicals.
Critical aspects, such as defining the agreement’s scope, legally binding targets, and the balance between recycling and production limitations, remain contentious.
Oil-rich nations, in particular, lean towards prioritizing recycling procedures over imposing production restrictions.
Issues related to funding and accountability mechanisms are also in need of clarification, with competing interests between developing and emerging nations.
As the negotiations unfold, the world awaits a pivotal agreement to address the global plastic crisis.
