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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/24/world-unable-cope-10-years-talks-un-global-treaty-to-end-plastic-waste>
"The world will be “unable to cope” with the sheer volume of plastic waste a
decade from now unless countries agree to curbs on production, the co-chair of
a coalition of key countries has warned ahead of crunch talks on curbing global
plastic pollution.
Speaking before the final, critical round of UN talks on the first global
treaty to end plastic waste, in Busan, South Korea, this week, Norway’s
minister for international development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, acknowledged
the split that had developed between plastic-producing countries and others.
She represents more than 60 “high ambition” nations, led by Rwanda and Norway,
who want plastic pollution tackled over its full life cycle. Crucially, this
means clamping down heavily on production.
While a “perfect treaty” may not be possible due to the strength of opposition,
mainly from oil-producing countries, she hoped a deal could be reached that
could be strengthened over time.
“We are not going to land a perfect treaty. But we need to get further. And I
think we will. I choose to be hopeful,” Tvinnereim said. “With high-ambition
coalition countries, we will continue to demonstrate that there is a big group
of countries that sticks to its ambitions. The world desperately needs some
leadership now, and some good news.”
This year, various researchers found microplastics in every sample of placenta
they tested; in human arteries, where plastics are linked to heart attacks and
strokes; in human testes and semen, adding to evidence of the ubiquity of
plastics and concern over health risks. The plastics crisis is widely
recognised as a threat to human health, biodiversity and the climate.
Two years after a historic agreement by 175 countries to adopt a mandate on
negotiations for a global, legally binding treaty to address the whole life
cycle of plastics, delegates remain widely divided on what to do – and a
deadline is looming. Progress has stalled over a row about the need for cuts to
the $712bn plastics industry. The last talks, in April, failed to get an
agreement to put production targets – seen as key to curbing plastic waste – at
the treaty’s centre.
The final round of talks, which starts on Monday and is due to end on 1
December, is critical.
“We need increased recycling and waste management, of course, but if we don’t
reduce production and consumption we will be unable to cope with the volume of
plastic in the system 10 years from now,” said Tvinnereim.
Use of plastic could triple globally by 2060, with the largest increases
expected in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Plastic waste is also projected to
triple by 2060, with half ending up in landfill and less than a fifth
recycled."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
