Why in news?

Representatives from over 170 countries have gathered in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth and final round of negotiations on a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, including marine pollution.

This initiative follows the 2022 UN Environmental Assembly's agreement to finalize the treaty by the end of 2024.

Background:

• Resolution to end plastic pollution:
• The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) passed a resolution to “end plastic pollution” in 2022.
• Setting up of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)
• INC was set up and tasked to develop a legally binding instrument - a global treaty - to govern plastic production and use across all nations.
• Global Plastics Treaty:
• In 2022, 175 nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024 to reduce GHG emissions from plastic production, use and disposal.

What’s in today’s article?

• Need for a global plastic treaty
• Agendas of the negotiation
• India’s position on the Global Plastic Treaty

Need for a global plastic treaty

• The Growing Dependence on Plastic
  • Plastic's global production doubled from 234 million tonnes in 2000 to 460 million tonnes in 2019. By 2040, production is projected to reach 700 million tonnes.
• Plastic Waste and Environmental Crisis
  • Plastic decomposition takes 20–500 years, with less than 10% recycled to date.
  • Annual plastic waste generation is approximately 400 million tonnes and could increase by 62% by 2050.
  • A significant amount of waste leaks into rivers and oceans, breaking down into harmful microplastics and nanoplastics.
• Impact on Environment and Health
  • Chemicals in plastics can cause endocrine disruption, cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurodevelopmental impairments.
  • Marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species are severely affected.
• Plastic’s Role in Climate Change
  • Plastic production and waste management contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • In 2020, plastics accounted for 3.6% of global emissions, primarily from fossil fuel-based production. Emissions could increase by 20% by 2050 if trends persist.
• India's Contribution to Plastic Pollution
  • India is the largest contributor to global plastic pollution, accounting for 20% of emissions (9.3 million tonnes annually), surpassing Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and China (2.8 mt).

What is on the negotiating table?

• Focus of Negotiations
  • The talks aim to establish global rules to tackle plastic pollution across its lifecycle, from production to disposal.
  • Proposed measures include banning specific plastics, setting binding recycling targets, and regulating chemical additives in plastics.
• ‘Just Transition’ Considerations
  • Discussions include ensuring a fair transition for workers, communities, and livelihoods affected by reduced plastic production and the elimination of certain products.
• Diverging Positions Among Nations
  • Countries remain divided on key issues, particularly on production caps for plastics:
    • Opposition to Production Caps: Oil and gas-rich nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, and India oppose strict production limits, favoring downstream measures like improved waste management.
    • Support for Ambitious Targets: Rwanda, Peru, and the EU advocate aggressive pollution reduction, with Rwanda proposing a 40% cut by 2040 using 2025 as the baseline.

India's Stance on the Global Plastic Treaty

• Opposition to Production Caps
  • India opposes restrictions on polymer production, arguing that such measures exceed the UNEA 2022 resolution's mandate.
• Focus on Financial and Technical Assistance
  • India advocates for financial aid, technology transfer, and technical support to be part of the treaty's core provisions.
• Regulation of Harmful Chemicals
  • Decisions on harmful chemicals in plastic production should be based on scientific studies and regulated domestically.
• Approach to Plastic Phase-Out
  • While India banned 19 categories of single-use plastics in 2022, it emphasizes that any phase-out in the treaty should be pragmatic and driven by national circumstances.
    • In 2022, India brought into effect the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) that banned 19 categories of single-use plastics.
• Safe Waste Management Mechanism
  • India calls for mechanisms to assess infrastructure needs, financial requirements, and predictable funding for scientific and safe waste management.