World leaders will convene in the capital of Canada this week to discuss the advancements made in drafting the first global treaty on curbing the escalating issue of plastic pollution.
This treaty, anticipated to be finalized by the year’s end, holds the potential to be the most pivotal agreement concerning climate-altering emissions and safeguarding the environment since the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The latter brought together 195 nations committed to limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.
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However, negotiators face a daunting challenge in Ottawa, as countries remain divided on the ambition the treaty should encompass.
As plastic waste increases rapidly, posing a worldwide threat to landscapes and water bodies, the production of plastics contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases.
According to a recent US federal Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, the plastic industry currently contributes 5% to global carbon emissions.
If present trends persist, this figure could escalate to 20% by 2050. Moreover, plastic production is projected to triple by 2060 unless the treaty imposes production constraints, as some advocate.
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It’s worth noting that the majority of virgin plastic originates from petroleum.
This week’s discussions are expected to be the largest, with approximately 3,500 registered participants, including lobbyists, scientists, and environmental non-profit organizations.
However, divisions among countries have emerged during three preceding rounds of discussions, which took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Paris, and most recently in Nairobi.
At the Nairobi talks in November, the initial 30-page draft treaty expanded to 70 pages as certain countries pushed to incorporate their reservations regarding more ambitious measures such as production limitations and phase-outs.
