Geneva, Switzerland - Delegates from nearly 180 countries are currently in Geneva for high-stakes negotiations led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to create a legally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution. The talks are considered critical as current projections show plastic production and waste could triple by 2060 if no international agreement is reached.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted by UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, who stated that the world is demanding action as the plastic crisis is "getting out of hand," with plastic found in oceans and even human bodies. Katrin Schneeberger, a Swiss environment official, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that plastic waste harms lakes, wildlife, and human health.
Supporters hope the treaty will be as significant as the Paris Climate Accord and will cover the entire life cycle of plastics, from their initial design to their final disposal. The negotiations are guided by a document containing 32 draft articles, which are currently under discussion. In addition to the delegates, campaigners from groups like the Youth Plastic Action Network (YPAN) are also advocating for an ambitious treaty that addresses the far-reaching effects of plastic on health and disabilities.
This round of UNEP-led talks follows a 2022 decision by UN Member States to develop a legally binding instrument to end the plastic pollution crisis within two years.