Negotiating an end to plastic pollution, with global treaty

Representatives from more than 170 nations are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, from Monday to negotiate what concrete measures should be included in a binding worldwide treaty to end plastic pollution.

A giant art sculpture showing a tap outpouring plastic bottles, each of which was picked up in the neighborhood of Kibera, during the U.N. Environment Assembly (UNEA) held at the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, March 2, 2022. AP - Brian Inganga

Nations agreed last year to finalise by 2024 a world-first UN treaty to address the scourge of plastics found everywhere from mountain tops to ocean depths, and within human blood and breast milk.

Negotiators have met twice already, but Nairobi is the first opportunity to debate a draft treaty published in September that outlines the many pathways to tackling the plastic problem.

Over the weekend hundreds of environmental campaigners marched in Kenya's capital Nairobi demanding drastic curbs on plastic production.

• Alarm as plastic pollution of oceans reaches unprecedented levels

Marchers waved placards reading "Plastic crisis = climate crisis" and "End multigenerational toxic exposure".

They chanted "let polluters pay the price" as they walked slowly behind a ceremonial band from central Nairobi to a park in the west of the capital.

Only nine percent recycled

The November 13-19 meeting is the third of five sessions in a fast-tracked process aiming to conclude negotiations next year so the treaty can be adopted by mid-2025.

At the last talks in Paris, campaigners accused large plastic-producing nations of deliberately stalling after two days were lost debating procedural points.

This time around, the sessions have been extended by two days but there are still concerns a weaker treaty could emerge if time for detailed discussion is swallowed up going in circles.

• Greenpeace study shows plastic recycling is a 'failed concept'

Global plastic production has more than doubled since the start of the century to reach 460 million tonnes, and it could triple by 2060 if nothing is done. Only nine percent is currently recycled.

Microplastics have been found everywhere from clouds to the deepest sea trenches, as well as throughout the human body.

The effects of plastics on human health remain poorly understood, but there is growing concern among scientists.

Plastic also contributes to global warming, accounting for 3.4 percent of global emissions in 2019, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

(with AFP)