{"id":6420,"date":"2024-10-10T14:17:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T12:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everwave.de\/2024\/10\/10\/plastic-treaty\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T11:37:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:37:58","slug":"plastics-treaty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everwave.de\/en\/2024\/10\/10\/plastics-treaty\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastics Treaty"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Small steps, big goals: The path to a global plastics agreement <\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Plastic is everywhere. It floats in the oceans, pollutes beaches, lies in landfills and ends up as tiny microplastics in the air we breathe and the water we drink. According to estimates, there could be more plastic floating in the oceans than fish by 2050 – if we don’t act now. But there is hope: the global Plastic Treaty, which was launched by the United Nations (UN), aims to stop the growing flood of plastic waste and protect our environment in the long term.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the Global Plastics Agreement?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Launched in 2022, the global plastics agreement aims to regulate and manage the entire life cycle of plastics – from production to disposal. The main focus is on the reduction of virgin plastics<\/strong>, the expansion of recycling infrastructures<\/strong> and the establishment of sustainable disposal systems<\/strong>. The aim is to curb the immense damage caused by plastics worldwide.<\/p>\n

The idea behind it: Not only do we need to produce less plastic, we also need to recycle it more efficiently and remove harmful chemicals<\/strong> from plastic production. This applies above all to single-use plastic<\/strong>, which is one of the biggest causes of global environmental pollution. Especially in the oceans, where millions of tons of plastic waste are disposed of every year, plastic products cause irreparable damage to marine biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Together, a globally binding plastics agreement is to be adopted, to which the United Nations has jointly committed itself. This international cooperation is essential in order to reduce the harmful effects of plastic worldwide and enable a healthier, plastic-free future.<\/p>\n

Progress and challenges in the negotiations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4)<\/strong> took place in Ottawa from April 23 to 29, 2024. Around 2,500 representatives from over 170 countries and 500 organizations took part in this important conference to negotiate the specific content of the agreement.<\/p>\n

Details on the content of the agreement were discussed for the first time after four rounds of negotiations, but progress was limited. A major obstacle remains the strong lobbying of the fossil fuel and plastics industry<\/strong>, which is trying to water down the strict regulations.<\/p>\n

Another point of discussion was the financing of the measures<\/strong>, particularly for poorer countries. These countries need support in order to develop the necessary infrastructure for the collection, recycling and environmentally friendly disposal of plastic waste.<\/p>\n

Why the global plastics agreement is important<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest global environmental crises of our time. Around 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year, and this has serious consequences not only for marine wildlife<\/strong>, but also for us humans. Plastic does not degrade – it simply breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that enter the food cycle<\/strong> as microplastics.<\/p>\n

Microplastics find their way back into our bodies via the food chain and endanger our health. Scientific studies are increasingly proving the harmful effects of plastic particles on human health, including possible hormonal disorders and other health risks.<\/p>\n

The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA)<\/strong> emphasizes that the plastic problem is not only an environmental issue, but also a public health issue. The introduction of a global agreement is crucial to enable a plastic-free future. If the international community does not take decisive action, the consequences of plastic pollution will continue to grow inexorably.<\/p>\n

Next steps: On the way to a global plastics agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although only minor progress has been made with the INC-4<\/strong>, the negotiations have not yet been concluded. The final meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee will take place in Korea in November 2024<\/strong>. Until then, various working groups will continue to work on the details of the agreement.<\/p>\n

Important points that will be in focus in the coming months:<\/p>\n