BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — This weekend, global representatives will finalize negotiations for a treaty aimed at combating the escalating plastic pollution crisis. The high-stakes discussions, held in Busan, South Korea, have drawn considerable attention from environmental advocates pushing for meaningful solutions to reduce plastic production and tackle its harmful chemical impacts.
On Saturday, Greenpeace heightened its advocacy efforts by deploying four activists to board a chemical tanker in Daesan, South Korea. The ship was bound to transport materials used in plastic manufacturing. Graham Forbes, Greenpeace’s delegation lead in Busan, emphasized the urgency of the treaty, stating that leaders must choose between safeguarding human and planetary health or bowing to industrial interests.
Key Facts About Plastic Pollution
Massive Global Plastic Production
The world produces over 400 million tons of new plastic annually, a figure that has quadrupled in the past 30 years. Plastic waste continues to choke the planet, with an estimated 2,000 garbage truckloads dumped daily into oceans, rivers, and lakes, according to the United Nations. Most countries have pledged to adopt the first legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.
Uncontrolled Growth Predicted
Without immediate policy interventions, plastic production could surge by 70% by 2040, reaching 736 million tons annually, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Panama, supported by over 100 nations, is leading efforts to limit production in the treaty. Juan Carlos Monterrey, head of Panama’s delegation, stressed that a treaty without production controls would fail. “If production isn’t addressed, this would just be a greenwashing recycling treaty, not a real plastics treaty,” he warned.
Key Players in the Plastic Industry
China, the United States, and Germany dominate the global plastics trade, collectively accounting for one-third of the market, with China taking the lead as the largest exporter. A U.S. delegate expressed support for including provisions to regulate plastic supply chains within the treaty.
Most Plastic Becomes Waste
Less than 10% of plastic is recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills, polluting ecosystems, or being incinerated. Chemicals from plastics are leaching into the environment, posing serious health risks, according to Sarah Dunlop of the Minderoo Foundation.
सम्बंधित ख़बरें
Indigenous voices have also joined the conversation, demanding recognition of their rights and emphasizing the human right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Juan Mancias of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation in Texas lamented the environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution. “Five hundred years ago, we had clean water and air — no plastics. What changed?” he asked.
Plastic Packaging: A Major Culprit
Roughly 40% of all plastics are used for packaging, such as single-use items like bottles, takeout containers, and shopping bags, which frequently end up as litter. U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen urged treaty negotiators to focus on eliminating unnecessary plastics. “Can we agree on phasing out certain plastic items that leak into the environment? Are there viable alternatives? This is critical,” she stated.
As discussions conclude, environmental groups and global leaders alike await the outcome of what could be a transformative agreement in the fight against plastic pollution.
This report was written by Jennifer McDermott for the Associated Press. AP climate and environmental reporting is supported by multiple foundations. AP retains full editorial independence.