The global community is engaged in critical negotiations to establish a comprehensive treaty addressing plastic pollution, akin to the Paris Agreement for climate change. These discussions, held under the United Nations' guidance in Geneva, aim to forge binding commitments to curb plastic production and pollution. Despite ongoing debate since 2022, significant divisions remain, particularly regarding mandatory limits on plastic production. The High Ambition Coalition, alongside environmental groups like Greenpeace, advocates for stringent measures, including a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040.
Countries like the EU are at the forefront, promoting decisive action against single-use plastics, while major oil-producing nations express resistance, focusing instead on waste management and recycling. The talks are crucial, as reports highlight the severe impacts of plastic on human health and the environment, costing the world an estimated $1.5 trillion annually in health-related losses. The negotiations strive to reconcile differing national interests to achieve a sustainable solution by 2024, with the potential to transform how plastics are managed globally and mitigate the ongoing environmental crisis.
