According to reports, ongoing efforts by the United Nations (UN) in engaging in treaty negotiations to mitigate the growing issue of Plastic Pollution globally may face opposition from major Fossil Fuel lobbyists who want to keep plastic production at current levels. It should be noted that global plastic Pollution has grown to be a serious environmental problem that affects wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. Every year, almost 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide, with just 9 percent of it recycled while the remaining ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.
The issue is particularly acute in nations like Nigeria, where Waste Management and Recycling systems are ineffective to handle the surplus. Consequently, it has seriously jeopardized human health and the climate, harmed wildlife, contaminated the food chain, and degraded the ecosystem. The scope and intricacy of the pollution necessitated global partnership and creative solutions. In response to this global hazard, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), had on the 2nd of March, 2022, passed Resolution 5/14, which established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) with the mandate to produce a legally enforceable resolution to drastically reduce plastic pollution by the end of the year 2024.
Last round of discussion is scheduled for November.
Members of the committee encompasses scientists, climate specialists, advocates and Civil Society organizations, political representatives, international financial organizations, and fossil fuel lobbyists. This committee has convened for discussions on several occasions since 2022. The last round of discussion is scheduled to take place in Busan, South Korea, from the 25th of November to 1st of December, 2024. Fossil fuel advocates continue to oppose restrictions on the Manufacturing of plastic, stating that recycling and waste management should take precedence over curbs on production. Meanwhile, environmental experts have sharply criticized this position, arguing that lowering production is necessary to solve the issue.
Based on its responsibility, the INC seeks to create a globally enforceable, legally binding framework to drastically mitigate the pollution by enhancing waste management practices and decreasing the usage of single-use plastics. Outcome of the ongoing discussions and initiatives at the local and international levels are essential in resolving the challenges, which will have a major impact for Nigeria and the global environment. With representatives from all 193 member states, the UNEA is the highest-level decision-making body in the UN for environmental issues. The resolution’s adoption is a major step in the fight against the menace of the pollution across the world.
Striking a balance between stakeholders’ conflicting interests.
This decision was made in response to years’ worth of increasing data and public pressure revealing how harmful Plastic Waste is to the environment and public health. The resolution places a strong emphasis on a thorough strategy that takes into account plastics’ whole lifespan from production, design, to its disposal. By the end of 2024, the INC—which consists of representatives from every UN member state—is expected to have drafted a new treaty addressing the pollution. The foundation for this resolution was established by previous UNEA initiatives to reduce marine litter and microplastics, including the formation of an expert committee in 2017.
While the first INC session (INC-1) was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay from the 28th of November to 2nd of December, 2022, the second INC session (INC-2) was held in Paris, France from the 29th of May to 2nd of June, 2023. Midway through the process, the third session (INC-3) took place in Nairobi, Kenya from the 13th to 19th of November, 2023. The fourth session (INC-4) took place in Ottawa, Canada, from the 23rd to 29th of April, 2024. To guarantee that the treaty is successful and enforceable, the INC seeks to strike a balance between stakeholders’ conflicting interests , such as countries that rely significantly on the manufacturing of plastic and those who are most impacted by the pollution.
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Each of the 193 UN member states has a seat at the Negotiation table and an equal say in how to put an end to the menace. Some might want a treaty with stricter binding obligations, particularly with consideration to global safeguards against all types of what eventually amounts to dumping of plastic trash, while major manufacturers of virgin plastic might favour a less restrictive convention. The momentous task is to find an agreement between the diverse interests of governments without compromising the goals of any future treaties or impeding their enactment.