According to studies, plastic pollution annually causes the loss of marine natural capital worth $2.5 trillion annually.
Marine plastic litter is a problem worldwide. Photo by iStock
The United Nations Environment Assembly will offer the opportunity for the world to come together to create a global treaty on plastics, Inger Andersen (executive director, United Nations Environment Programme) stated February 22, 2022.
This treaty would be the most important global environment agreement since 2015’s Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Andersen spoke at the Fifth session of OECPR-5.2, the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives. OECPR-5.2 is a preparatory meeting or “PREPCOM”, where delegates begin discussions on key issues ahead of the second part of the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly or UNEA-5.2.
The first session of UNEA-5 and UNEA-5.1 began almost on February 22.
The matters that required intensive negotiations were delayed and will now be dealt with at the UNEA 5.2 conference, which is set for February 28-March 2, 2022.
Governments have agreed to four successive UNEA resolutions on marine litter and plastic polluting. The fourth UN Environment Assembly (4th UNEA-4) was held in 2019, and focused on marine plastic litter. It also addressed the larger issue of plastic pollution.
This issue has seen a significant shift in global discourse over the past two decades.
According to the report, UNEA 5.2 offers an opportunity to create an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Nature at the Heart of Sustainable Development: Contribution to the High-Level Segment of UN Environment Assembly’s Resumed Session.
Sonja Leighton Kone, acting UNEP deputy director, released the report.
It is expected that the UN Environment Assembly will establish an intergovernmental committee to deal with plastic pollution. This was confirmed by delegates at OECPR5.2.
This committee is necessary to fill in the gaps in existing instruments, and to tackle plastic pollution. This committee will also address marine plastic litter. It will provide circular solutions throughout the lifecycle of plastic products (from source to sea)
Why is this important?
According to a report, the global plastic market is expected to reach $580 billion by 2020. Plastics Market– Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Opportunities and Forecast, 2020-2027.
According to a study published by the journal, the monetary value for marine natural capital losses is 4.3 times or as high at $ 2.5 trillion per annum. Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Climate will also pay a cost since greenhouse gas emissions from the production, recycling and incineration of plastics could account for 19 per cent of the Paris Agreement’s total allowable emissions in 2040.
Resolving plastic pollution is both a wise investment in the environment and a socio-economic opportunity.
The UN report stated that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee should work towards a systemic transformation, with solutions that are applied throughout the entire value chain of plastics.
It should encourage a rethinking about how plastics can be produced, used, and disposed. The double-dividend is not only a greener planet, it also creates new opportunities for employment.
The UN stated in its report, presented at the preparatory session on February 21 that this requires bold, ambitious and measurable actions by governments, civil society, and the private sector at every level.
To review 17 draft resolutions, two informal working groups were created to examine them.
These resolutions will fall under five categories: Plastic pollution; biodiversity-based solutions; chemicals, green recovery and circular economy; as well as procedural matters.
The India submission of a draft resolution on single use plastics pollution, which suggested a voluntary approach instead of a legally-binding one has been included.
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