Trump’s reversals and pressure from oil producers jeopardise the global plastics pollution accord. The impact that contemporary life has on the environment has gradually come to be acknowledged by the world over the years. Pictures of mountains of trash, contaminated rivers, and oceans choked with plastic have forced nations to engage in meaningful discussions about sustainability. Governments, scientists, and environmentalists are collaborating to try to undo decades of damage as the climate crisis and environmental deterioration grow more difficult to ignore.
Talks on a global plastic treaty come to a standstill due to major producer opposition
Hopes for a “last-chance” ambitious global treaty to curb plastic pollution have dimmed as delegates gather this week at the United Nations in Geneva for what was intended to be the final round of negotiations. Diplomats and climate advocates warn about efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production, fuelled by petroleum.
Coal and gas are threatened by opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump. Plastic production is set to triple by 2060 without intervention, choking oceans, harming human health and accelerating climate change, according to the OECD. said,
“This is really our last best chance. As pollution grows, it deepens the burden for those who are least responsible and least able to adapt.”
Oil-producing countries threaten advancement by contesting important plastic measures
Delegates will meet officially from Tuesday for the sixth round of talks, after a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in South Korea late last year ended without a path forward on capping plastic pollution. The most divisive issues include capping production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
Dr. Melanie Bergmann of the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany said,
“Plastics are a concern for human health because (plastic) contains about 16,000 chemicals, and a quarter of these are known to be hazardous to human health.”
Delegates told Reuters that oil states, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, plan to challenge key treaty provisions and push for voluntary or national measures, hindering progress toward a legally binding agreement to tackle the root cause of plastic pollution. Government spokespeople for Saudi Arabia and Russia were not immediately available for comment.
“We’re not here to get something meaningless… you would want something that is effective, that has everybody inside, and therefore everybody committed to it.”
Industry associations and big oil start to oppose the treaty
Large oil and petrochemical firms have begun to vigorously lobby behind the scenes to safeguard their interests. The creation of plastic, which is frequently made from fossil fuels, is a major component of many of these companies. Plastics are now a major area for potential profitability as the worldwide need for fuel slows down in some places.
Some of these organisations are now abusing their power to weaken the treaty’s provisions or completely stall its advancement. Strong laws, according to industry representatives, might harm jobs, increase production prices, and interfere with international supply chains. Instead of imposing legally enforceable restrictions. They advocate for “voluntary” pledges, and a Trump memo urges the UN to reject plastic output limits.
One major worry is that lobbyists are attempting to change the tone of the discussions themselves in addition to applying pressure to specific administrations. According to a participant close to the negotiations, “we’re seeing more hesitation, more vague language, and less ambition than we had just a year ago.” Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, however, said countries should push for a meaningful pact agreed by consensus so that the Plastics treaty is not at risk from the oil lobby or Trump rollbacks.
GCN.com/Reuters