UPSC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : Remoulding the Global Plastics Treaty

• Prelims: Current events of national and interventions importance(Plastics, Microplastics, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) etc

• Mains GS Paper III: Conservation of Environment, Biodiversity and Environment(Environmental Pollution and pollutants and degradation)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• According to the OECD Global Plastic Outlook, global production of plastic waste was 353 million tonnes in 2019, more than doubled since it was in 2000, and is set to triple by 2060.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Plastics:

• A group of materials, either synthetic or naturally occurring, that may be shaped when soft and then hardened to retain the given shape.

• Plastics are polymers. A polymer is a substance made of many repeating units

• Plastics can be divided into two general categories: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics are defined as polymers that can be melted and recast almost indefinitely. Thermosets is a polymer that irreversibly becomes rigid when heated

• thermoplastics and thermosets.

• Thermoplastics are defined as polymers that can be melted and recast almost indefinitely.

• Thermosets is a polymer that irreversibly becomes rigid when heated

Microplastics:

• They are formed by the degradation and the fragmentation of large plastic pieces that are improperly disposed of.

• Microplastic deposition and accumulation has been found in the Himalayan mountains, rivers, lakes and streams.

• Microplastics can be trapped in glaciers for a long time and released into rivers during snow melting.

Plastic Management and Informal workers:

• Only 9% of plastic was recycled

• 50% sent to landfills

• 19% incinerated and 22% disposed of in uncontrolled sites or dumps.

• According to the United Nations Environment Programme, of the 9% recycled, 85% was done by informal recycling workers.

• The Centre for Environment Justice and Development observed that informal workers promote circular waste management solutions. They help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, valuably contributing to sustainability.

• They help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, valuably contributing to sustainability.

• According to the UN-Habitat’s Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), the informal sector accounts for 80% of municipal solid waste recovery in many cities.

• Recent study by UN-Habitat and the University of Leeds estimates that around 60 million tonnes of plastic from municipal solid waste pollute the environment, including water bodies. Due to inadequate collection services and mismanagement of solid waste.

• Due to inadequate collection services and mismanagement of solid waste.

• The recent Leave No One Behind Report, strategies to reduce plastic pollution often neglect to effectively involve the recovery capacities, skills, and knowledge of the IWRS. This oversight worsens livelihood vulnerabilities and undermines existing informal recovery systems.

• This oversight worsens livelihood vulnerabilities and undermines existing informal recovery systems.

Challenges:

• These workers are often overlooked and remain highly vulnerable in plastic value chains.

• They face risks such as: increasing privatization of waste management waste-to-energy or incineration projects exclusion through other public policy interventions in plastic waste management in the norms of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

• increasing privatization of waste management

• waste-to-energy or incineration projects

• exclusion through other public policy interventions in plastic waste management in the norms of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

The Global Plastics Treaty:

• It is a significant attempt to establish a legally binding agreement aimed at reducing and eliminating plastic pollution.

• Establishment of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was made in 2021 during the fifth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.

• An Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in mid-2022

• Subsequent meetings in Uruguay, Paris, and Nairobi Fourth INC-4 in Canada in April. The final INC-5 meeting in South Korea: There will be active participation from the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP).

• Fourth INC-4 in Canada in April.

• The final INC-5 meeting in South Korea: There will be active participation from the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP).

• The IAWP(participant in the UNEA Plastic Treaty process) emphasizes the importance of supporting the formalization and integration of informal waste pickers into discussions on addressing plastics. It advocates including waste pickers’ perspectives and solutions at every stage of policy and law implementation. These measures aim to acknowledge waste pickers’ historical contributions, protect their rights, and promote effective and sustainable plastic waste management practices.

• It advocates including waste pickers’ perspectives and solutions at every stage of policy and law implementation.

• These measures aim to acknowledge waste pickers’ historical contributions, protect their rights, and promote effective and sustainable plastic waste management practices.

Way Forward

• As a key representative from the Global South, India promotes an approach that enhances repair, reuse, refill, and recycling without necessarily eliminating the use of plastics altogether.

• India has stressed the importance of adopting country-specific circumstances and capacities. India’s informal waste pickers, who are indispensable, remain central to the discussion.

• India’s informal waste pickers, who are indispensable, remain central to the discussion.

• We need to rethink the formulation of our EPR norms and raise questions on how to integrate this informal worker cohort into the new legal framework.

• As the final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty approaches the INC-5, incorporating informal workers’ perspectives and ensuring their livelihoods are protected. The treaty can embody social justice and equity principles while leaving no one and no place behind.

• The treaty can embody social justice and equity principles while leaving no one and no place behind.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

• Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage.(UPSC 2022)

(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

Source: The Hindu