Explained | What is the upcoming global treaty on plastic pollution?

The story so far:The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), voted to establish an international legally-binding instrument to combat plastic pollution by 2024. Representatives from 175 countries agreed to the decision at the fifth session in Nairobi, Kenya. The resolution addresses the threat of plastic pollution to human health, the environment, and emphasizes the need to take measures throughout the plastics’ lifecycle to reduce their negative impact.

The UNEA session’s overall theme was to strengthen actions for nature in order to achieve the sustainable development objectives. It gave member states a platform to exchange best practices for sustainability.

What is the solution?

The UNEA resolution on plastic pollution creates an intergovernmental negotiating panel (INC), which is expected to submit its draft agreement before 2024. The instrument is expected be legally binding in nature. It would contain alternatives to plastics’ full life cycle, as well as design of reusable or recyclable products and materials. It would also address the need for better international collaboration for scientific, technical cooperation among member countries.

The United Nations Environment Programme will convene a forum before the end of the year for sharing best practices and knowledge. The INC members will then engage in open discussions over two years, until the draft instrument is created. The UNEP will convene an international conference to adopt the INC’s outcome and make it available for signatures in 2024.

This is the most important multilateral environmental agreement since the Paris accord. It is an insurance policy for future generations so they can live with plastic, Inger Anderson, Executive Director of UNEP was quoted as saying.

The resolution recognizes the role of stakeholders and the private sector in the implementation and encourages actions at local and regional levels.

What are the main considerations behind this new treaty?

The global treaty to end plastics pollution will be focused on elements such as global objectives to combat marine and other forms of environmental pollution and their impacts, and worldwide obligations, measures, and measures throughout plastics’ lifecycle, from product design to disposal.

Plastics pollution treaty will include mechanisms to provide scientific information that is relevant to the resolution’s policies and financial support. It also recognizes the importance and age-old practices of indigenous communities in keeping the environment clean and calls for the INC to take these communities’ knowledge into consideration.

The treaty will consider national action plans and international cooperative measures to achieve the goal of eliminating plastic pollution. These considerations are mostly in the preimplementation stages. The resolution will also consider progress assessment for member countries.

What is India’s position on the treaty?

At the special session marking the 50th anniversary UNEP’s creation in Nairobi, Kenya, Indias Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yodav spoke out recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modis 2018 call to end single-use plastics.

The theme of India’s 2018 World Environment Day celebrations was “Beating Plastic Pollution.” Mr. Yadav stated, “This call from India created the momentum that led to significant action against plastic pollution around the world, culminating in the historic resolution’s adoption.”