On March 2, 2022 in Nairobi, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), the resolution ‘End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument‘ to end plastic pollution and establish a legally binding international agreement by 2024. (1) This historic agreement was supported by heads of state, environment ministers and other representatives of 175 countries.
The United Nations resolution on plastics
The resolution is based on three initial draft resolutions from various nations and establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which will begin its work this year, with the aim of completing a draft legally binding comprehensive agreement by the end of 2024.
The Commission should present a legally binding instrument that has several alternatives to address the entire life cycle of plastics, the design of reusable and recyclable products and materials, the need to improve international cooperation to facilitate access to technology, development, and scientific and technical cooperation.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) will convene a forum open to all stakeholders by the end of 2022, along with the first session of the INC, to share knowledge and best practices in different parts of the world. Once the INC’s work is concluded, UNEP will convene a diplomatic conference to adopt its results and open them for signature.
A circular economy approach
Plastic production has increased exponentially in recent decades and now stands at about 400 million tons per year, a figure that will double by 2040, becoming a global industry worth $522.6 billion. It is hoped that this agreement will achieve an integrated circular economy approach useful for reducing the volume of plastics entering the oceans by more than 80 percent by 2040 and decreasing virgin plastic production by 55 percent.
A measure, the latter, that could save governments $70 billion by 2040, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent and create 700,000 new jobs, mainly in the Global South. Helping control the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and waste, as Inger Andersen, executive director of theUN-Environment Program, reminds us.
The health harms of plastic
Exposure to plastics can damage human health by impairing fertility and hormonal, metabolic, and neurological activity (2). Open burning of plastic contributes to air pollution. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, use and disposal of plastics would account for 15 percent of allowable emissions, based on the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by this pollution through ingestion, getting caught in fishing nets, and other hazards. About 11 million tons of plastic waste arrive in the oceans each year, and if the same trend continues, this figure could triple by 2040. (3)
The responsibilities of the food industry
The food industry is a major contributor to plastic production worldwide. (4) It is necessary for each state to strengthen regulations on the use of plastics. Equally urgent is for large transnational corporations to adopt a comprehensive policy of reduction or elimination in plastic use. So far, such an effort appears to be more of a marketing tool.
Isis Consuelo Sanlucar Chirinos
Notes
(1) Draft Resolution End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/38522/k2200647_-_unep-ea-5-l-23-rev-1_-_advance.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
(2) Paola Palestini, Dario Dongo. Microplastics and human health, the invisible evil. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade), 3/28/19. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/microplastiche-e-salute-umana-l-invisibile-male
(3) Dario Dongo, Giulia Torre. Fishing gear, marine litter and protection of aquatic ecosystems. The EU debate. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade), 7.1.22. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/idee/attrezzi-da-pesca-rifiuti-marini-e-protezione-degli-ecosistemi-acquatici-il-dibattito-ue
Dario Dongo. Protection of fisheries and marine ecosystems, EU (in)action plan. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade), 12/26/21 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/tutela-di-pesca-ed-ecosistemi-marini-piano-di-in-azione-ue
(4) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. Plastic pollution, the responsibilities of Big Food. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade), 12.1.22 %C3%
Graduated in food engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, she is attending the master's degree in 'Food Safety Lawyer and Consultant' at Alma Mater, University of Bologna.
