The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 8th May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Plastic solution

Why in News?

The Global Plastics Treaty, an ambitious initiative involving at least 175 United Nations member nations to eliminate the use of plastics, concluded its fourth round of negotiations recently. The goal is to finalise a legal document by the end of 2024 with timelines by when countries must agree to curb plastic production, eliminate its uses that create wastage, ban certain chemicals used in its production and set targets for recycling.

Negotiation On Zero Draft for a Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

• Negotiations on Zero Draft: Countries engaged in discussions to refine the core obligations and control measures proposed in the "zero draft" text prepared by the Committee's Secretariat.

• Expected Outcome of INC-3: The primary goal was to evaluate the zero draft, identify favorable components, and advance toward the development of the initial draft for a global treaty on plastic pollution.

• Measures to Reduce Plastic Pollution: While there were compelling proposals for a globally enforceable agreement to tackle plastic pollution, member states managed to weaken their commitments on critical issues such as:

  • Manufacturing of primary polymers
  • Regulation of chemicals of concern
  • Addressing problematic and short-lived plastics
  • Establishing trade and financial mechanisms for combating plastic pollution.

• Objective and Scope of UNEA Resolution 5/14: UNEA Resolution 5/14 aimed to address various environmental conservation and sustainability goals, potentially including measures to combat plastic pollution.

About UN Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

• Background: In 2022, UN Member States unanimously agreed to commence negotiations for a new global plastic pollution treaty, signaling a collective commitment to combat plastic pollution on a global scale.
• About the treaty: This forthcoming global plastic pollution treaty will represent a landmark international agreement, legally binding nations to take action to eradicate plastic pollution. It will delineate clear measures, methodologies, and timelines for implementation.
• UNEA Resolution 5/14: This resolution established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), tasked with delivering a comprehensive global plastics treaty by 2025, underscoring the urgency and importance of addressing plastic pollution.
• Working of INC: The INC embarked on its mission in late 2022, with the ambitious goal of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024, demonstrating a concerted effort to expedite the treaty drafting process.
• Sessions of INC:
  • First session (INC-1): Held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 28 November to 2 December 2022, marking the initiation of formal negotiations.
  • Second session (INC-2): Convened in Paris, France, from 29 May to 2 June 2023, facilitating further discussions and progress towards treaty development.
  • Third session (INC-3): Hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, from 13 to 19 November 2023, reflecting continued efforts to refine the treaty text and address key issues.
  • Fourth session (INC-4): Anticipated to take place at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Canada, signaling ongoing commitment to advancing the treaty drafting process.

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: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that globally, approximately 430 million metric tonnes of plastic are produced each year. Over 90% of this waste comprises single-use plastics (SUP) like plastic cutlery and microplastics found in cosmetic products. Municipal solid waste constitutes about 67% of this total, with short-lived plastics predominant. Additionally, the automobile and textile sectors contribute 11% each, while the remainder, 11%, originates from industries including building, construction, electrical/electronic, and others.
• Status in India: India generates roughly 3.4 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, according to the report titled 'Plastics, The Potential and Possibilities.'
• Recycling of Plastic Waste: Less than 10% of plastic waste worldwide is recycled, with around 15% incinerated. The majority is disposed of in landfills, on land, or ends up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. In India specifically, the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) report, 'The Plastic Life Cycle,' indicates that 12.3% of plastic waste is recycled, while 20% is incinerated.

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: Achieving the goal of eliminating plastic leakage by 2040 is paramount. This entails advancing recycling technologies, fostering global markets for secondary plastic and waste, and implementing measures to discourage landfilling and incineration. Introducing taxes on landfill and incineration in India can incentivize recycling over dumping. Implementing a 'pay-as-you-throw' system, where citizens pay based on the weight of their mixed garbage, can also encourage responsible waste management.
• 5R Reversed Triangle Concept: Embracing the 5R concept—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery, and Disposal—is essential for combating plastic pollution. According to the OECD report, these measures could result in an 80% reduction in plastic pollution and create 7 lakh jobs by 2040. Moreover, they could generate $1.3 trillion in savings and avert $3.3 trillion in environmental and social costs related to plastic pollution while reducing annual GHG emissions.
• Measures for Circular Economy: Strategies for transitioning to a circular economy should involve increasing taxes on plastics, incentivizing the reuse and repair of plastic items, mandating recycled content targets for new plastic products, promoting sustainable plastic alternatives, implementing extended producer responsibility schemes, enhancing waste management infrastructure, and boosting litter collection rates.
• Opting For Bioplastics: Utilizing bioplastics, derived from renewable resources like hemp and bamboo, offers a promising solution with lower environmental impacts. Providing specific incentives to the bioplastics industry, such as income tax exemptions and infrastructure support, can encourage their adoption and development.
• Holistic Address of Plastic Pollution: India's draft resolution should adopt a comprehensive approach to tackling plastic pollution, encompassing interventions across the production, product design, and waste management phases. This entails broadening the focus beyond single-use plastics to address plastic pollution in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater environments comprehensively. India should advocate for a globally binding plastic pollution treaty to address the issue's transboundary nature effectively.

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.