Plastic pollution: UN is taking a step further towards a “legally binding” text

The mandate of negotiations covers a very broad spectrum of subjects, the production of plastic to its “durable” use via the waste management.

Le Monde with AFP

The United Nations (UN) launched Wednesday 2 March the process towards a “historic” treaty to combat plastic pollution, including millions of tons of waste threaten global biodiversity. The UN Assembly, the highest international body on these subjects, gathered in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, adopted a motion creating an “Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee” to develop a text ” legally binding “by 2024.

“I do not see any objections, it is so decided,” launched the Norwegian Minister of the Environment, Espen Barth Eide, who presides this fifth anal, before the representatives of 175 countries together in the presence and in videoconferencing. “Today, we write the story. You can be proud,” he pursued under the applause of the standing delegates, after formizing the decision of a hammer … made of recycled plastic.

Production in waste management

The mandate of negotiations covers a very broad spectrum of subjects taking into account “the entire life cycle of the plastic”, the production and the “sustainable” production to waste management, reuse or recycling.

It includes terrestrial and marine pollution from plastics as well as microplastics, products made from fossil and responsible hydrocarbons, according to the OECD, nearly 3.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. responsible for global warming.

Negotiations will also need to focus on setting targets and define measures that can be “binding” or “voluntary” globally. The Treaty can also provide national control plans, while taking into account the specific “circumstances” of the different countries. The mandate plans to develop control mechanisms as well as financing for poor countries.

The text further recommends “to encourage the action of all stakeholders, including the private sector”, in a sector that weighs the billions.

Prevent the “collapse of the ‘ecosystem “

“You will do this crucial step to overthrow the wave of plastic pollution. It is a historic moment,” launched before the adoption Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) . It is for this organization of the main advance since the Paris Agreement on Global Warming in 2015 to cope with the “triple crisis” that threatens the world: climate change, collapse of biodiversity and pollution.

“We are at a turning point in history, where the ambitious decisions taken today can prevent plastic pollution from contributing to the collapse of the ecosystem of our planet,” commented on Marco Lambertini, CEO of the Global Fund for Nature (WWF). The mandate of negotiations covers all the chapters won by environmental NGOs. Mr. Lambertini, however, pointed out that “the work is far from being completed” and that negotiations should lead to a treaty to “clear and solid global standards”.

Less than 10% of plastics currently recycled

The engagement of large multinationals, including some major packaging users such as Coca-Cola or Unilever, for a common rules of rules reinforces optimism, even if they have not spoken to specific measures.

In a statement, the Unilever Research Manager, Richard Slater, greeted a “historical” decision that will be “an innovation catalyst and also represents the consumers: less plastic”.

Some 460 million tons of plastics were produced in 2019 in the world, generating 353 million tonnes of waste, of which less than 10% are currently recycled and 22% abandoned in wild discharges, burned open or rejected In the environment, according to the latest estimates of the OECD.

This pollution contributes in particular to the collapse of biodiversity, noted by all specialists, even as “nature-based solutions” are considered in the new expert report on the UN climate (IPCC) experts , published Monday, as an important tool for the fight against climate change and mitigation of its effects.

/Media reports.