GLOBAL PLASTIC TREATY: STATUS, SIGNIFICANCE, CHALLENGES, WAY FORWARD

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Picture Courtesy:  DOWNTOEARTH

Context

Japan plans informal meetings to overcome the stalemate in global negotiations for a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution

What is Global Plastics Treaty?

In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) passed a historic resolution (UNEA 5.2) to create an international, legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. 

This treaty aims to address the entire lifecycle of plastic—from the extraction of raw materials and production to its use, disposal, and waste management. 

The goal is to establish a comprehensive framework that protects human health and the environment from the escalating plastic crisis.

Negotiations by an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) continue after the fifth session (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, in late 2024 failed to reach a final agreement, setting the stage for further talks in 2025.

Why is a Global Plastic Treaty Urgently Needed?

Plastic pollution's severe, global impact necessitates a worldwide treaty; national efforts alone are insufficient for this transboundary problem.

Explosive Production Growth: Annual plastic production doubled from 234 million tonnes in 2000 to 460 million tonnes in 2019, with projections to nearly triple by 2060 without intervention. (Source: OECD)

Environmental Devastation: An estimated 14 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, harming marine life, destroying habitats, and contaminating ecosystems (Source: IUCN). 

Low Recycling Rates: Globally, only about 9% of plastic waste is successfully recycled. Around 19% is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfills, and the remaining 22% is mismanaged, often burned in open pits or leaking into the environment. (Source: OECD)

Climate Change Link: Plastics lifecycle is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately 3.8% to 4.5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

Human Health Risks: Microplastics contaminate our air, water, and food. Carrying toxic chemicals, they pose health risks, including cellular damage.

Highlights and Key challenging Points in Negotiations

Negotiations divided on the treaty's scope and ambition, leading to two major opposing blocs.

• The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), co-chaired by Rwanda and Norway and including over 60 countries like the EU, Canada, and Japan, advocates for a strong, legally binding treaty. 
• Their goal is to end plastic pollution by 2040 by addressing the full lifecycle of plastics.
• A group of 'Like-Minded Countries', including major petrochemical producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, China, and India, oppose binding production limits. 
• They argue the treaty should focus on downstream measures like waste management and recycling.

India's Stance at the Negotiations

Opposition to Production Caps: India opposes any binding targets to limit the production of primary plastic polymers, viewing it as a hindrance to economic growth and sovereign development rights.

Focus on Pollution, Not Plastic: India's key argument is that the treaty's mandate is to end "plastic pollution," not plastic itself. Therefore, interventions should target waste mismanagement, not production.

Principle of Equity: India advocates for the inclusion of principles like "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR), emphasizing that developed nations should bear greater responsibility.

Call for Financial Support: India strongly advocates for a dedicated multilateral fund, technology transfer, and capacity-building support for developing countries to manage plastic waste effectively.

Domestic Measures to Combat Plastic Pollution

• Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Ban: Since July 1, 2022, India has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, and sale of 19 identified single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential.  
• Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules: The PWM Rules, 2016, and its subsequent amendments (2021, 2024, 2025) form the regulatory backbone. Key features include:
• Phasing out thin plastic bags, with a ban on bags less than 120 microns in thickness since December 2022.
• Introducing mandates for clear labeling and certification for compostable and biodegradable plastics.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): The EPR guidelines, notified in 2022 and amended in 2024, make producers, importers, and brand owners financially and operationally responsible for managing the plastic packaging waste from their products.

Conclusion

The Global Plastics Treaty faces challenges in balancing environmental needs with economic interests, and its success depends on bridging the gap between ambitious and like-minded blocs through legally binding rules and equitable support.

Source: DOWNTOEARTH