Delegates from over 170 nations gathered this week in Busan, South Korea, for what many are calling a "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to make significant strides toward ending plastic pollution. This meeting, known as the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC-5), is attempting to negotiate the world's first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, targeting the entire lifecycle of plastics—from production to waste management.
The discussions come right after the recent UN climate summit in Azerbaijan and highlight the urgent need to tackle the problem of plastic pollution, which is suffocATING ecosystems, infiltrATING food chains, and posing severe threats to human health. Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Project Leader at Greenpeace USA, emphasized the importance of this summit, stating, "If we fail here, it sends a signal to financial markets to continue investing in petrochemicals and plastic production with no liability."
Current production trends suggest plastic production could triple by 2060, with staggering consequences for both the environment and human health. Plastic pollution increasingly is being recognized not just as an environmental challenge, but as part of the larger health crisis fueling climate change. Microplastics—tiny plastic particles often invisible to the naked eye—have been found within human organs, breast milk, and even the air we breathe.
Many scientists connect chemicals found in plastics such as BPA to numerous health issues, including cancer and reproductive problems. “There’s over 16,000 chemicals in plastics, and many of those are known hazardous chemicals, and the vast majority are unregulated,” stated Professor Trisia Farrelly of the Cawthron Institute, highlighting the need for meaningful regulatory frameworks.
At the heart of the negotiations is whether the treaty should address the entire lifecycle of plastics or merely focus on managing waste. Countries belonging to the High Ambition Coalition, which includes numerous African and Asian nations as well as certain European countries, advocate for stringent production caps and the elimination of toxic chemicals. They argue this approach is necessary to effectively combat the rapid rise of plastic pollution. Conversely, countries with significant fossil fuel industries, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States, favor solutions oriented around recycling and waste management, pushing back against measures aimed at reducing production.
Forbes from Greenpeace critiqued this stance, pointing out, "It’s absurd to let the people responsible for causing the problem dictate the solutions. We need mandatory, legally binding global targets to reduce plastic production. Voluntary measures have proven to be completely inadequate." This divide among nations significantly complicates negotiations as delegates strive for consensus.
Environmental activists are making their presence felt at the conference, protesting and demanding decisive action against plastic pollution. They assert it's increasingly evident through the treaty’s discussion process, emphasizing responsibility for the issue lies not just with governments but also with corporations producing plastics and the fossil fuel industry.
Meanwhile, various scientific explorations are underway aimed at addressing the plastic crisis. A recent study from the University of British Columbia examined the potential of mealworms to consume plastics. While these insects can digest certain types of plastic, the study found they are incapable of making a significant impact on the massive scale of global plastic pollution alone. The researchers discovered it would take about 100 mealworms approximately 138 days to eat just one disposable polypropylene mask, painting the problem's scale.
Microplastics, which are less than five millimeters long, have previously been linked to health issues ranging from heart attacks to strokes. Previous studies have shown some insect species can degrade plastics under certain conditions, but those often involve pure plastic samples rather than everyday items. This recent research indicated mealworms fed on processed plastic blended with other substances, indicating some pathways to utility but fell short of addressing plastic pollution comprehensively.
Dr. Michelle Tseng, the ecologist leading this research, acknowledged the limitations of using mealworms to tackle the overwhelming plastic waste problem. The novelty was just as much about engagement with the environmental narrative surrounding the insects. “While they do consume plastic, we need to ask if this is practical—or safe—for food chains,” Dr. Tseng noted, raising concerns about potential toxins accumulated by the insects.
Currently, most countries lean toward prioritizing the reduction of plastic use over relying on innovative but slow methods like insect larvae. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Asia alone reportedly used 2 billion face masks daily, highlighting the impracticality of using mealworms as scale solutions.
Looking at the broader picture within plastic pollution, small island states and developing nations face unique challenges. Despite contributing minimally to global plastic waste, they are often the hardest hit by pollution effects, from degraded coastlines to loss of economic stability relying on fishing and tourism. Micronesia’s legal adviser Dennis Clare expressed concern about the inequitable burden placed on nations with fewer resources, stating, "If the countries with the most wealth and resources take a pass, it’s an inequitable burden shift."
Experts and civil society groups alike are calling for immediate action as negotiators continue discussions behind closed doors. They recognize this moment is pivotal, particularly as the increased pace of plastic production and waste is projected to create significant hurdles going forward. Bjorn Beeler of the International Pollutants Elimination Network warned, "Plastics are blowing out the carbon budget," calling for accelerated measures to avoid worsening climate impacts.
The INC-5 is not just about plastics; its outcomes wield influence over various crises interlinked with environmental and health issues. The urgency intensifies as experts voice concerns, igniting discussions on whether the world can really achieve meaningful change without action from established economies and heavy producers of plastic.