Context: This article is based on the news “What’s the status of the UN treaty to end plastic pollution?” which was published in the Indian Express. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)-3 (under UNEP) met to negotiate a global plastic pollution treaty in November 2023. 

Negotiation On Zero Draft for a Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

• Negotiation on Zero Draft: Countries negotiated the ‘zero draft’ text for core obligations and control measures developed by the Committee’s Secretariat.
• Expected outcome of INC-3: To assess the zero draft, select favorable options from the draft, and proceed with developing a first draft for the global plastic pollution treaty.
• Measures To Reduce Plastic Pollution: It included compelling proposals for a globally enforceable agreement to stop plastic pollution. However, member states were able to weaken their commitments concerning some core issues;
  • Manufacturing of primary polymers
  • Chemicals of concern
  • Problematic and short-lived plastics, trade, and financial mechanisms, etc
  • Objective and scope of UNEA Resolution 5/14.

Also Read: COP28 Climate Summit In Dubai

What are the key highlights of the Zero Draft of INC-3?

• Primary Goal: The majority of nations reached a consensus on cessation of plastic pollution and safeguarding human health and the environment as the primary goal of the global plastic pollution treaty.
• Clause For Safeguarding Economic Interests: A coalition of countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Iran, and certain members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, advocated for the inclusion of the clause “while contributing to the achievement of sustainable development.” 
  • This addition was aimed at safeguarding their economic interests and investments.
  • As per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global plastic trade is about one trillion US dollars annually, or about 5 percent of the total merchandise trade.
• Debate Over Primary Polymer Production Reduction: The clause calling for a decrease in the production of primary polymers raised controversy due to its probable implications for the industry.
  • There was a  36% increase in lobbyists for the chemicals and fossil fuels sector compared to INC-2. 
• Disagreement Over The Starting Point Of Plastic Life Cycle: While there is consensus that effective management of plastic pollution necessitates robust measures at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, divergent opinions persist regarding the starting point.
  • Many assert that it commences at the ‘birth’ stage, corresponding to the extraction of raw materials for manufacturing.
  • However, a like-minded bloc of countries contend that the life cycle begins at the product design phase. This perspective aims to exclude the production stage from the treaty’s scope.
• Opposition to a Binding Agreement To End Pollution:  Few countries expressed opposition to incorporating provisions related to the elimination of problematic and avoidable plastics, as well as compounds and polymers of concern.
  • Despite widespread support from other nations advocating for a binding agreement, they advocated for a ‘null option.’
• Provision For Plastic-Pollution Fee:  The zero draft proposed a plastic-pollution fee, to be paid by plastic polymer producers and another fee for reducing the financial flow into projects with a high carbon footprint. 
  • A few countries demanded that these provisions be deleted altogether from the draft.
  • However, removing subsidies for fossil fuels and investments in ecologically unfavorable technologies would have been a major win for human health and the environment.
• Limits on Plastic Trade: The same bloc of countries argued against limiting the trade in polymers, chemicals, plastic products, and waste. 
  • It contended that any restrictions on trade is considered to be impinging on the freedom and sovereignty of nations.
  • Around 9 million people are employed in polymer production and plastic processing industries.

What are the issues associated with the Rules of Procedure in INC?

• Voting Procedure: The rules of procedure encompass  a two-thirds vote majority instead of  consensus-based decision-making.
• No Concrete Resolution: The rules of procedure remained without any conclusive resolution during INC-3 and the responsibility to address them was deferred to INC-4. 

What are the key takeaway from INC-3?

• The Zero Draft faced challenges in reaching a consensus, marking a significant setback. 
  • Many countries had anticipated progress in refining details such as definitions, targets, and timelines during this period before INC-4.
• Due to the deadlock, INC-3 could not adopt the mandate to proceed with developing the first draft. 

What is India’s role in the drafting of the resolution?

• India proposed a resolution titled ‘Framework for addressing plastic product pollution including single-use plastic product pollution.’

What are the key elements in the proposed resolution?

• Encourages multi-stakeholder action
• Need to adopt principles of waste hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
• International Collaboration for devising a mechanism for financing and technology
• Extended Producer’s Responsibility
• National Action Plans & Policies for promoting recycling of plastic waste
• Voluntary Data Disclosure & Monitoring of plastic waste generated and plastic waste processed in an environmentally safe manner to UNEP.

What is Plastic Pollution? 

• It refers to the accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment, creating problems for wildlife, their habitats, and human populations.

What is the current status of plastic pollution in the world?

• Plastic waste generation: According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world produces about 430 million metric tonnes of plastic annually.
  • Over 90% of the plastic waste is made up of single-use plastics (SUP), such as plastic cutlery, and microplastics, such as those added to cosmetic products.
  • Of this, about 67 percent is municipal solid waste consisting of short-lived plastics; the automobile and textile sector contributes 11 percent each; and the remaining 11 percent is from the building, construction, electrical/electronic and other sectors.
• Status in India:  As per the report titled ‘Plastics, The Potential and Possibilities,’ India generates around 3.4 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually.
• Recycling of Plastic Waste: Less than 10 percent of the plastic waste is recycled, about 15 percent is incinerated, while the remaining is dumped either in landfills, on land, or in rivers, lakes and oceans.
  • According to CSE’s report, The Plastic Life Cycle, India recycles 12.3 per cent of its plastic waste and incinerates 20 percent. 

What are the impacts of plastic pollution?

• GHG Emissions: A report by the UNEP states that under a business-as-usual scenario, plastics will contribute about 19% of the greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) emissions by 2040.
  • The burning of plastic and other wastes in the open, results in the emission of highly toxic gases. 
• Impact on Humans and Wildlife:  It is hazardous for humans, species, and the environment. 
  • A study estimated that between 400,000 to one million people die every year due to plastic pollution. 
  • As per the experts, around one lakh marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, and turtles die yearly due to marine plastic pollution. 
  • Every year, about one million sea birds die due to ingestion of microplastics or getting entangled in plastic debris. 
• Impact On Environment: Plastic is non-degradable in nature and can take several centuries to decompose; thus, it emits harmful pollutants that degrade the environment. 
  • Traces of microplastics have been found in breast milk, tap water, and human bloodstreams.  
• Water Contamination: As per a study conducted in 2017,  83% of tap water samples from around the world contain plastic pollutants. 
  • The US, Lebanon and India reported the highest incidence of tap water contamination due to plastic pollution. 
• Marine litter: Plastic accounts for 85% of marine litter and aggravates marine pollution and marine biodiversity. 
• Social cost: According to a 2023 UNEP report on ‘Turning off the tap, the annual social and environmental costs of plastic pollution are estimated between $300 and $600 billion per year.

What global measures have been taken to address and end plastic pollution?

• London Convention, 1972: Also known as Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, it aims to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and to take steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter. 
• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL): It is the main international convention covering the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships.
  • India is a signatory of the convention.
• Clean Seas’ Program: It aims to fight marine plastic litter with the help of governments, civil society and citizens.
  • India joined the programme in 2018.
• Global Tourism Plastics Initiative: It unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution.
• World’s first circular plastics economy: the EU aims to create the world’s first “circular” plastics economy with a ban on single-use plastics, creating a comprehensive reuse system, and establishing a market for recycled plastics. 

What initiatives has India taken to curb plastic pollution?

• Project REPLAN: Combines processed plastic waste with cotton fiber to make carry bags (20:80 ratio).
• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022: Specifies responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers to manage plastic waste and prevent environmental pollution.
• Solid Waste Management Rules 2016: Emphasize waste segregation, manufacturer responsibility for sanitary and packaging waste, and user fees for collection.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): EPR is implemented in India holding producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their disposal.
• Ban on Single-Use Plastics: India banned the manufacture, distribution, stocking, sale and use of selected 19 single-use plastic items with effect from July 1, 2022.

Way Forward:

• Addressing Technical and Financial Challenges: Eliminating plastic leakage by 2040 is vital. 
  • This includes developing advances in recycling and expanding active global markets for secondary plastic and garbage.
  • Landfill and incineration taxes must be levied in India to encourage recycling rather than dumping. 
  • Authorise a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ system, which requires citizens to pay a variable rate per kilogram for a bag of mixed garbage.
• 5R Reversed Triangle Concept:  It entails following Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and Disposal to tackle plastic pollution.
  • As per the OECD report,  these measures could lead to an 80% reduction in plastic pollution and a net increase of 7 lakh jobs by 2040.
  • It could lead to savings of $1.3 trillion in direct public and private costs between 2021 and 2040.
  • It will avoid $3.3 trillion of environmental and social costs due to plastic pollution, and reduce annual GHG emissions by 0.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

• Measures for Circular Economy: These should include:
  • Increasing taxes on plastics and plastic packaging
  • Giving incentives to reuse and repair plastic items
  • Mandating targets for recycled content in new plastic products
  • Giving incentives for sustainable plastic alternatives
  • Providing extended producer responsibility schemes
  • Improving waste management infrastructure
  • Hiking litter collection rates 
• Opting For Bioplastics: Bioplastics can be made from plants like hemp and bamboo and have a lower environmental impact because they are made from renewable resources and can be composted. 
  • The fibers and cellulose obtained from these trees can be processed to create bioplastic materials that can be used as an alternative to traditional plastic in various applications.
  • Specific incentives to the bioplastics industry are needed. Ex-income tax exemptions, infrastructure development support.
• Holistic Address of Plastic Pollution: India’s draft resolution must call for resolution on plastic as a whole with interventions on production (upstream), product design( midstream) and waste management (downstream).
  • Currently, it singularly focuses on single-use plastics, limiting the scope to address the plastic pollution problem comprehensively.
  • India needs to demand a globally binding plastic pollution treaty that addresses pollution from marine, terrestrial, and freshwater environments, given the transboundary nature of the issue.

Conclusion:

The enactment of a legally binding global plastic pollution treaty proposed for next year by the United Nations will help tackle the global plastic crisis and realize the goal of a zero-waste world.