The international community agrees to sign a deal to reduce plastic and chemical pollution

Plastic Pollution in the ocean. Image Credit Imperial

The international community agrees to sign a deal to reduce plastic and chemical pollution.

Over 190 countries have been dedicated themselves to creating a legally binding agreement to reduce plastic pollution on land and sea, with a focus on the full supply chain in order to establish a circular plastics economy. There was also agreement on the formation of an intergovernmental science-policy group to advise on chemical pollution and waste.

'We still have a lot of studying ahead of us..... but the basic line is that we will eliminate plastic pollution from our world,' says Inger Anderson, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, stated (UNEP). Work will begin later this year with the goal of reaching an agreement on a treaty by the end of 2024.

The new chemical and the waste advisory council were inspired by international committees on climate change and biodiversity, and it will deal with what has been named the "third global crisis." Representatives also agreed to increase time and effort on environmentally sound chemical and waste management – a target originally set for 2020 that has yet to be met – develop recommendations to reduce the environmental impact of mineral extraction and manage nitrogen waste, primarily from agricultural run-off.

Heads of UN environmental organizations celebrate a historic agreement to develop a new agreement to reduce waste and chemical pollution is achieved. Source: UNEP, CW

Participation of the private sector

The International Council of Chemical Associations, whose members reportedly campaigned for a deal that focused on trash rather than plastics manufacturing, said it was 'pleased with the outcome.' It stated that the resolution gives states "the flexibility to identify mandatory and voluntary actions across the whole lifecycle of plastics while acknowledging that there is no one way to solving this global crisis."

According to Anderson, negotiators will have to deal with the major difficulties of improving their effectiveness and monitoring outcomes. 'We also need to get [the] business sector into the discussion, since after all, the private sector is the maker of plastics.' We'll need to discuss whether and how we measure the degree of circularity, as well as whether we should set some goals for reducing raw polymer in the production chain.' She emphasized that treaty implementation, varying country capacities, and money must all be addressed. She urged governments and corporations, however, not to wait for the deal to be signed before taking action to combat plastic pollution.

Camilla Alexander-White, Royal Society of Chemistry's chemicals policy head, congratulates the decision to bring chemicals and trash under one umbrella. 'Until now, chemicals policy in terms of Reach and industrial chemical production has been different from waste policy. If you want to build a circular economy, you must bring the two worlds together.'

Critically, 'science will now be at the center of these debates, where there was essentially none before.' That is a turning point, and it should serve as a catalyst for meeting the targets [on chemical protection]. The world's pollution targets have not been met in the last ten years because industry and research have not been present at the table.'

Data exchange

The science panel, on the other hand, will have to negotiate data sharing. 'When you have safety data, chemical data that is a company asset, how you share that data with the rest of the world – especially on priority areas of global concern – will be a critical issue,' she adds. Industry scientists should be included, but make sure they're not bringing the corporate agendas and business strategies to the table, but bringing their facts, their knowledge, and managing any conflicts of interest transparently.'

According to the resolution passed this week, its primary functions will be horizon scanning, assessment, and maintaining communication between scientists and policymakers. Switzerland will contribute $817950 (£610,000) to the panel's establishment. Alexander-White wants the UK government to make a similar commitment "since we're a leading participant in this."

It will take till 2024 to establish the scientific policy panel. Former chair of both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Bob Watson, says the working group entrusted with establishing the panel has been given clear direction on what is desired. 'That's fantastic - it sounds just like an IPCC or IPBES approach, so they're taking it very seriously.' There are still questions about the panel's scope and priorities. But first, 'they have to get the process right.' It is critical that all governments are happy with the process - the business sector, NGOs, and all essential stakeholders must have faith in the process that will be put in place.'

Anderson expects the panel, if constituted, to "look at every molecule under the sun," starting with those that have the greatest influence on human health and the environment. 'However, not all chemicals are garbage, and not all rubbish is chemicals,' she notes. As a result, there's a lot to unpack.'

Main Author of this Article: Angeli Mehta

This Article originally published on ChestryWorld. Toisthe Staff just furnish and publish it.