Why in the news?

  • Scientists urged governments to take immediate action on plastic pollution, instead of waiting for the Global Plastic Treaty to launch.

Global Plastic Treaty 

  • What is it?: The Global Plastic Treaty seeks to create a legally binding international agreement to end plastic pollution by addressing its full lifecycle, from production to disposal.
  • Origin: United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14 in March 2022 launched the process, tasking the INC to deliver a draft treaty by end-2024
  • Status: Negotiations, led by the UNEP’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), have faced repeated stalemates and failed to finalize the text due to deep divisions among nations.
  • Key Objectives:
    • Reduce primary plastic polymer production via global caps or targets, phasing out single-use plastics and problematic items like polystyrene.​
    • Regulate hazardous chemicals (e.g., phthalates, BPA) and promote circular economy through eco-design, recycling, and bans on open dumping/burning.​
    • Establish compliance mechanisms, financing for developing nations, and reporting on production/imports/exports.
  • Global Stance:
    • High-ambition coalition (EU, Australia, African/Pacific states) pushes for production cuts and binding targets, arguing waste management alone fails.
    • Like-minded countries (LMCs: oil producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran) prioritize downstream solutions (recycling), rejecting production curbs as beyond mandate and harmful to development.
    • India aligns with LMCs, opposing binding production caps and chemical bans without scientific backing, favoring flexible, nationally determined actions and tech/finance aid for developing nations.

Source: Down To Earth