As of today, the European Commission is taking part in negotiations for the Plastics Treaty in Geneva, Switzerland, with the goal of reaching an effective agreement to address the urgent issue of plastic pollution.
According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2021, global plastic production has reached the staggering figure of 400 million tonnes annually. However, only 12% is incinerated and just 9% is recycled, leaving a significant amount of plastic waste that pollutes the environment, including oceans and rivers, according to a statement from the Commission.
Due to these alarming statistics, the EU supports a treaty that covers the entire lifecycle of plastics — from production to disposal — and includes measures to gradually phase out certain plastic products that pose significant risks to human health and the environment.
The EU will also continue to support effective provisions for the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, Jessica Roswall, will attend the negotiations on 12 August, where she will stress the need for global cooperation to reduce plastic pollution.
“If business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060,” she warned.
“The EU remains firmly committed to finding a global solution to curb plastic pollution and we expect all parties to be flexible and open in the negotiations. We must agree on effective global policies that benefit both people and the planet,” she added.
The negotiations, which run until 14 August, follow a session held in December 2024 that marked significant progress towards an agreement, though consensus was not ultimately reached.
Feature photo source: GreenPeace UK
Video source: AnewZ
Source: CNA
Also Read: World in $1.5tn plastics crisis, health at risk from birth to old age
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