World agrees to bin plastic - 11th April 2022

A global treaty to tackle plastic pollution is to be drawn up. The world's nations have agreed to commence negotiations on an international agreement to respond to the 'plastic crisis'. The UN members are responsible for creating a framework for reducing plastic waste.

There is growing concern that discarded plastic is destroying habitats, harming wildlife, and damaging the food chain. Supporters describe the move as one of the world's most ambitious environmental actions since the 1989 Montreal Protocol. This treaty eliminated substances responsible for the hole in the ozone layer.

Every year, 40 percent of the 400 million tonnes of plastic that is produced is single use. Plastic can take years to break down, and it's thought there are more than five trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans. Animals are often harmed by plastic waste – they can get trapped in discarded plastic packaging or they frequently mistake plastic for food.

Senior policy advisor Paula Chin comments that the key to closing off "the plastic tap" is to look at the whole cycle of plastic products, from production and use to disposal. "The next step is to make sure all signatories are ready to deliver on the promise of this ground-breaking agreement," she added.

World leaders have until 2024 to agree terms for the plastic pollution treaty, including which elements will be legally binding and how the deal will be financed. Environmental groups are calling for clear global standards that motivate nations to stick to common rules and regulations. These will also punish those manufacturing harmful products or with damaging practices.

Professor Steve Fletcher of the University of Portsmouth advises the United Nations Environment Programme on plastics issues and reminds us that the plastics problem spans international borders. "One country can't deal with plastic pollution alone, no matter how good its policies are," he declared. "We need a global agreement to enable us to deal with the widespread challenges that plastic gives us as a society."