Doha, August 04 (QNA) - In a world increasingly suffocated by plastic waste, the urgent need for radical solutions to confront this global challenge is becoming ever more apparent. Oceans are burdened by vast floating plastic islands while wildlife suffers from the impacts of pollution that threaten biodiversity, and microplastics are seeping into human bodies through food, water, and air.

In light of these mounting challenges, representatives from around 180 countries are set to gather in Geneva, Switzerland Tomorrow (Tuesday) for the final round of negotiations aimed at securing a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution.

Much like the climate crisis, plastic pollution is a global issue that demands ambitious international cooperation. Driven by the need to address the growing threat posed by this environmental scourge, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a historic resolution in 2022 to establish a legally binding international treaty to combat plastic pollution. This treaty covers the entire plastic manufacturing cycle, particularly by reducing its production and improving waste management.

Over the past three years, world representatives have held five rounds of negotiating a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), held in Busan, South Korea, in Dec. 2024, was supposed to be the final round of talks aimed at concluding a treaty on plastic pollution, however delegates failed to reach an agreement.

Key points to be discussed in Geneva over the ten days include reducing production by setting global limits on unnecessary plastic production, with a focus on single-use plastics. They also include recycling and the circular economy, by strengthening global recycling systems and setting standards for designing reusable plastic products.

Negotiations will also address supporting developing countries with advanced technologies and infrastructure for effective waste management, as well as banning the use of toxic chemicals in plastic production and phasing out non-biodegradable materials.

Despite international momentum, negotiations face significant obstacles. Some oil- and plastic-producing countries fear the economic impact of reducing production, while others demand international funding to support the transition to a plastic-pollution-free economy. Disagreements over the treaty's legal commitment add further complexity. However, there is cautious optimism, as more than 170 countries have expressed support for the treaty, with major global companies committing to shifting to sustainable practices.

Observers say that reducing production is both the most important and the most difficult issue on the negotiating table. This is because this sensitive issue pits two camps against each other in a conflict similar to climate negotiations. On one side is an ambitious coalition led by Norway and Rwanda, calling for a binding mechanism to reduce plastic production by 2040, in line with the UN mandate. This approach encompasses the entire plastic life cycle, from manufacture to disposal. On the other side, some oil and plastic-producing nations are pushing to limit the treaty's scope to waste management, without imposing restrictions on production. 

Discussions around the proposed treaty have already been underway in Geneva ahead of the official start of negotiations to be held tomorrow. Over the past several months, health and human rights experts have mobilized efforts to urge negotiators to take into account the impact of plastic pollution on public health and human rights.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a pivotal role in these discussions. In one of its interventions, the organization stated that the anticipated treaty represents a major challenge for public health, especially since human and environmental health are closely linked. Experts have pointed out that some additives and chemicals found in plastics can disrupt hormonal systems, affect reproduction, or increase the risk of cancer.

These substances are also believed to be linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, as well as respiratory, digestive, and neurological disorders.

As negotiations over a treaty to end plastic pollution near the finish line, environmental experts around the world hope that the new round will produce a global agreement that will change the course of the future and ensure that future generations breathe clean air and live on Earth free from the burden of plastic pollution.

Analysts say that if the Geneva negotiations succeed, the treaty will serve as a roadmap for a cleaner world. It could stimulate innovations in biodegradable materials, promote a circular economy, and reduce reliance on conventional plastics. They emphasize that this step will not only protect the environment but will also open doors to new economic opportunities, especially in countries that rely on green innovation.

It is estimated that the world produces over 400 million tons of plastic each year, half of which is single-use. Less than 10 percent of this waste is recycled, while the remainder accumulates in public landfills, soil, and oceans, or decomposes into microplastic particles that pollute ecosystems and seep into human blood.

Despite its many practical uses, plastic is known to decompose very slowly, making it a constant threat to the environment. Developing countries, which often lack advanced waste management infrastructure, bear the brunt of this pollution, while major industrialized countries contribute to the export of waste to them.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), global plastic production has doubled over the past two decades and could triple by 2060, threatening a tsunami of pollution, the full health and environmental consequences of which are still unknown. (QNA)