Plastic pollution has resulted from the accumulation of plastic products such as plastic carry bags, plastic bottles, etc., in the environment of our planet that has adverse impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem, wildlife, marine animals, and humans. People in today’s world are highly dependent on plastic for its myriad uses, and disposable plastic litter and microplastics are now found everywhere.
Plastic pollution nowadays has become a serious matter of global concern. Any amount of plastic waste collection will not be enough if the production of plastics is not controlled as soon as possible. All voluntary actions to deal with this issue have been proved worthy but insufficient. That is why now it needs an immediate national and international response. Strong national policies and compliances should be made with international support.
Keeping in mind the seriousness of this issue, the United Nations Environment Assembly is going to organize a historic meeting this year (from 28th February to 2nd March 2022) in Nairobi (the capital of Kenya, an East African country) with the support of more than 140 countries throughout the world to discuss a mandate for creating the first plastics treaty of the globe in the history of human civilization.
Climate Actions:
The treaty presumably will also consider climate crisis, include climate actions, and try to control greenhouse gas emissions during plastic production. Hopefully, the communities that are most burdened by climate change and the consequences of plastic pollution will get a chance to discuss their problems in the treaty’s content before its final execution.
Two countries, namely Peru (a country in South America) and the Republic of Rwanda (a country in East Africa), have set forth a joint resolution. Their proposal will address some problems that arise at all stages of the life cycle of plastics and identify their solutions. This joint proposal will be co-sponsored by other countries like Colombia, Chile, Norway, Madagascar, the Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, Ecuador, Senegal, Guinea, Switzerland, Costa Rica, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, Japan (an East Asian country) has put forward a second proposal that mostly depends on the unsuccessful approach of thinking of the crises of plastic pollution solely as a waste management problem. The key difference between these two proposals is that the approach of Japan focuses on aquatic plastic pollution. At the same time, the joint resolution made by Peru-Rwanda concentrates on plastic pollution and its impacts on all environments.
Plastic Toxicity:
One major plastic crisis that we often avoid because of its invisible nature is plastic toxicity. Many scientific kinds of research have proved that thousands of hazardous chemicals present in plastic bottles, containers, and food packaging leach into the drink and food, and thus, they enter into human bodies.
In Agenda 2030, the government of almost all nations has committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle and ensuring wellness for people of all ages irrespective of their socio-economic condition. A plastic treaty is essential for fulfilling this commitment by eliminating toxic additives and harmful chemicals and encouraging safe and reusable plastic packaging that will be less harmful to the people and the planet.
An international plastic treaty should not limit itself in curbing plastic pollution, but it should also address other issues. For example, we can talk about poverty and gender inequality. To eliminate those social problems, a plastic treaty can think about creating more inclusive jobs. We all are aware of the role of waste pickers in our society, and they play an important role in reducing the costs of the solid waste management system. From landfills, these waste pickers divert valuable materials.
According to an estimation, there are nearly twenty million waste pickers all over the globe. Most of them are women from economically and socially marginalized communities. An international plastic treaty has the potential to establish legal policies or frameworks for the betterment of the working conditions of those waste pickers.
Benefits of Global Plastic Treaty:
The far-reaching benefits of a global plastic treaty include creating positive impacts on economies worldwide. An inclusive plastic recycling system has the potential to create nearly 321 jobs per 10 thousand tonnes of recyclables per year. According to some reports, plastic waste reduction strategies such as reuse, recycling, composting, repair, etc., besides their environmental benefits, can create hundreds of jobs (more jobs than any other waste management system).
The plastic treaty aims to set sustainable development goals to combat plastic pollution worldwide. According to Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment program, this treaty is nothing but a great opportunity to reshape our relationship with plastic. Andersen opines that this treaty could be the most remarkable global environmental resolution since the Paris Agreement conducted in 2015.
