Geneva: The European Commission has commenced negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, to address the critical issue of plastic pollution. The treaty negotiations aim to establish a comprehensive agreement that tackles the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal, and includes measures to phase out certain plastic products.
According to Cyprus News Agency, UNEP data from 2021 highlights that global plastic production has soared to 400 million tons annually, with only 12% incinerated and 9% recycled, leaving a significant amount of plastic waste to contaminate ecosystems, including oceans and rivers. The European Union is advocating for a treaty that integrates environmentally sound management practices for plastic waste while addressing the whole plastic lifecycle to mitigate its adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
EU Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, is attending the Ministerial Segment of the negotiations on August 12. She is emphasizing the need for global collaboration to curb plastic pollution, stating that if current practices persist, plastic production could potentially triple by 2060. The EU is committed to finding a global solution and expects all parties involved in the negotiations to be flexible and open to effective global policies that benefit both people and the planet.
The negotiations, set to conclude on August 14, follow a previous session in December 2024, which made substantial progress towards an agreement but ultimately did not reach a final deal. Further information on the ongoing negotiations is available online.