BUSAN, South Korea. As the world grapples with an escalating plastic pollution crisis, nations have convened in Busan, South Korea, to finalize negotiations for a legally binding global treaty aimed at addressing the issue. The discussions, which conclude Sunday or early Monday, have drawn environmental organizations and activists pushing for decisive action on plastic production and its toxic impacts.
A Crisis in Numbers
According to the United Nations, over 400 million tons of new plastic are produced annually, with daily plastic waste equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks dumped into oceans, rivers, and lakes. Without significant policy changes, global plastic production is projected to surge by 70% by 2040, reaching 736 million tons annually, warns the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“There’s just too much plastic,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey, head of Panama’s delegation, which leads efforts to address the exponential growth of plastic production. “If production is not included in this treaty, it may as well be called the greenwashing recycling treaty, not the plastics treaty,” he told reporters.
Activist Pressure
Greenpeace escalated its advocacy on Saturday by boarding a tanker in Daesan, South Korea, carrying chemicals used in plastic production. Graham Forbes, head of Greenpeace’s delegation in Busan, emphasized the urgency of the treaty, stating, “World leaders have a clear choice: deliver a treaty that protects people and the planet, or side with industry and sacrifice the health of every living person and future generations.”
The Major Players
China, the United States, and Germany dominate the global plastics industry, collectively accounting for 33% of the trade, according to the Plastics Industry Association. The U.S. delegation has expressed support for addressing plastic supply within the treaty framework.
The Human and Environmental Toll
The recycling rate for plastics remains dismally low at under 10%, with most ending up in landfills, incinerators, or polluting the environment. Beyond environmental harm, experts highlight the health risks posed by chemicals leaching from plastics.
“Chemicals from plastics are making us sick,” said Sarah Dunlop, head of plastics and human health at the Minderoo Foundation.
Indigenous leaders have also voiced concerns about the impact of plastic pollution on their communities and the planet. “Five hundred years ago, we had clean water, clean air, and no plastics,” said Juan Mancias of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation in Texas. “What happened?”
A Focus on Packaging
Single-use plastics, such as packaging materials for food and beverages, account for 40% of global plastic production, according to the UN. These items frequently leak into the environment, underscoring the need for alternatives.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, urged negotiators to target these items specifically. “Are there specific plastic items that we can live without? Are there alternatives to these items? This is an issue we must agree on,” she said.
As the treaty negotiations draw to a close, the world watches closely to see whether decisive action will be taken to curb plastic pollution and its devastating effects on the planet.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
