UN negotiations on an agreement to curb plastic pollution opened in Busan | Latest Indian News

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Development of an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, Including the Marine Environment (INC-5) is taking place in Busan, South Korea, where 175 parties are expected to negotiate the text of the agreement. . Following public calls for action to combat plastic pollution, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) decided to end plastic pollution in 2022 by passing a resolution that established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to work on an agreement. Since 2022, the ITUC has met four times (ICP-1, INC-2, INC-3 and INC-4), managing to overcome initial procedural problems and initiate text-based negotiations based on a compilation of the draft text of the future agreement. .

INC Chairman Louis Vayas circulated a non-paper in late October this year that reflected the areas of common ground among INC members on which they were likely to agree.

This non-paper has a preamble that lists the reasons for phasing out plastic. It also lists exceptions that may be allowed. And it discusses plastic product design, supply (this relates to managing the supply of virgin polymers to achieve sustainable levels of production and consumption), emissions, plastic waste management, a just transition, financing to facilitate the transition, and implementation and monitoring.

Chairman Louis Vaias explained on Monday that the non-paper is entirely bracketed (meaning every aspect is up for debate) and was proposed as a “starting point for negotiations.”

“This session provides a critical opportunity to tackle one of our most pressing environmental issues. Plastic waste accounts for about 80% of all marine pollution, with an estimated 8 to 10 million tons entering the ocean each year. Plastic production has grown from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons in 2015. This means huge economic and environmental costs. Microplastics impact human organs and are associated with serious health risks, including cancer,” Vyas said at a press conference.

India could lead the world in developing global criteria for a ban on single-use plastics, say researchers at the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), who have closely followed the negotiations over the years. Naresh Pal Gangwar, additional secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is India’s lead negotiator for the treaty.

India introduced UNEA Resolution 4, which aims to “end single-use plastic pollution”.

“The country is positioning itself as a leader in efforts to phase out single-use plastics both regionally and nationally,” Atin Biswas, director of the Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy Program at the Center for Science and Environment, said in a statement.

In 2019, India developed a system of criteria to identify problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic products. A total of 40 single-use plastic items, including carry bags, small plastic bottles, IV (saline) bottles and tea bags, were assessed using this criterion method, which was then used to phase out 19 single-use plastic items that were production, storage, distribution, sale and use in the Indian market is prohibited.

“The criteria developed by India under the leadership of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, along with the support and input from other Member States advocating a global criteria-based approach, can serve as a basis for creating a comprehensive, logical and science-based global framework for problematic, waste and unnecessary plastic products, including single-use plastic products,” Biswas added in his November 23 statement.

Since the 1950s, more than 10 billion tons of plastic waste has accumulated, filling landfills and clogging sewer systems, streams and rivers, and ending up in the ocean.

The main point of contention in the plastics negotiations is threefold.

The first is downward and upward flow. The original resolution called on delegates to consider the entire life cycle of plastic. According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, this gave rise to several interpretations during the negotiations.

Some countries are interested in solving the problem of recycling plastic, that is, plastic directly from the point of production. But almost all countries are interested in plastic recycling – fighting plastic waste rather than actually stopping plastic production.

Secondly, about the use of chemicals. “There is a clear opportunity here to list the obvious harmful chemicals and establish a process for listing those that have yet to be identified. Also, are there specific plastic items that we can do without that end up in the environment so often? Are there alternatives to this item,” the UN Environment Program said in a statement.

The third is supply and finance. The UNEA resolution called for sustainable production and consumption of plastics using a life cycle approach. “Obviously this is based on Sustainable Development Goal 12, which is about sustainable production and consumption. I encourage you to use this aspect of the resolution as a guiding light, while recognizing that national plans and reporting will be an important tool for Parties to ensure compliance with the agreements you may make,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations. The UN Environment Program speaks during its opening plenary session on Monday.

“Financing is central to multilateral environmental agreements. We saw how important this issue is for many countries at the climate talks that just concluded. The UNEA resolution makes clear its recommendations and states that parties should consider establishing “a financial mechanism to support the implementation of the instrument, including the option of a dedicated multilateral fund,” she added.

WHY IS A GLOBAL PLASTIC PHASE OUT TREATY NEEDED?

To end the global plastic pollution crisis.

1. More plastics and man-made chemicals are produced than the planet can afford.

2. Waste management cannot solve the crisis, and a coordinated and dramatic reduction in plastic production is needed – this can only be achieved by a global treaty.

To combat climate change

1. More than 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels.

2. If the life cycle of plastic was determined by country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.

3. If plastic production continues as planned, accumulating greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could use up 10-13% of the total remaining carbon budget by 2050.

4. By 2100, total plastic emissions will exceed more than half of the carbon budget.

To protect your health

1. Plastic packaging can contain up to 63 chemicals that scientists have identified as particularly hazardous to human health.

2. Plastic is found in our food, water, blood, stool and digestive system.

Source: Break Free From Plastic (negotiation observer)