According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 500 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, with this figure expected to triple by 2060. The critical question raised by environmental organisations is: Where does unusable plastic end up? UNEP estimates that only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled. The rest is either incinerated, disposed of in landfills (controlled or uncontrolled), or, in the worst cases, dumped directly into the environment. According to scientists, some types of plastic can take hundreds or even thousands of years to decompose.
The consequences of plastic waste on the environment are severe. It hinders efforts to adapt to climate change and undermines ecosystem resilience. Microplastics enter organisms, threatening the health of humans and animals alike. Representatives from Fiji highlighted this concern during the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Despite not producing any plastic, Fiji suffers heavily from pollution caused by plastic waste washing ashore on this Pacific Island nation.
Aware of the challenges posed by plastic pollution, countries have implemented various measures, such as recycling plastic waste, eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics, and researching sustainable alternatives. According to UNEP, nearly 130 countries have introduced regulations regarding single-use plastics.
At a higher level, the United Nations adopted a resolution in 2022 to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with drafting a legally binding international agreement to combat plastic pollution. INC aims to create a comprehensive approach covering the entire lifecycle of plastics from production and consumption to disposal, ensuring environmental protection and safeguarding human health from its negative impacts.
Despite four negotiation rounds, INC discussions remain unresolved due to conflicting interests among parties. The European Union (EU), Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have advocated limiting plastic production. On the other hand, major plastic producers argue against production caps, instead emphasising the need for improved plastic waste management and recycling initiatives. With differences yet to be reconciled, UNEP has called on all parties to focus on urgent issues, leaving detailed regulations to be finalised later.
This week, delegates from over 170 countries gathered in Busan, the Republic of Korea, for the fifth round of negotiations. According to INC’s plan, this is the final negotiation round. However, the prospects for reaching an agreement remain slim, as consensus has yet to be achieved. In a message to this decisive round, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged nations to unite in finalising a global agreement on combating plastic pollution, emphasising responsibility to future generations.
Among thousands of letters from children across Kenya, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen read one during the INC negotiations. The letter highlighted the alarming spread of plastic pollution, which threatens not only the lives and livelihoods of people in Kenya but also those in many parts of the world.
This fifth round marks 1,000 days since the green light was given to pursue a global agreement on plastic pollution. If successful, the agreement will pave the way toward the ambitious goal of ending global plastic pollution.
