global plastics treaty
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US shifts to support global plastic production cuts
In a significant policy shift, the United States is now backing a global treaty to reduce plastic production, putting it at odds with major plastic producers like Saudi Arabia and China.
In short:
- According to a source close to negotiators, the U.S. will support a global treaty to reduce the production of new plastic, a change from its previous stance.
- This move aligns the U.S. with countries like the EU and Canada, which advocate for caps on plastic production and eliminating harmful chemicals.
- The U.S. will also support creation of a list of harmful chemicals for phaseout.
- The policy shift comes just before crucial treaty negotiations in South Korea and has received mixed reactions from industry and environmental groups.
Key quote:
"This significant change of heart by the U.S. State Department — to support a global target that will reduce plastic production and to identify a list of hazardous chemicals to be eliminated from plastics — is affirmation of hard work by an assemblage of organizations working to ensure the treaty negotiations fully incorporated concerns about the human health effects chemicals in plastics. It was already clear that the current level of plastic production was unsustainable, and that current 'business as usual' projections by industry were going to make things much worse. If the State Department sticks to this commitment, we will all benefit."
— Pete Myers, EHS founder and chief scientist
Why this matters:
By backing the treaty, the U.S. is acknowledging that our addiction to plastics is not just an eyesore but a real threat to our health and the environment.
Read more from EHN about the impacts of plastic on our health:
A plastic recipe for societal suicide
Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health: Report
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Credit: G Witteveen/Flickr
AI tool aims to curb plastic waste in food industry
A new machine learning tool developed at U.C. Santa Barbara aims to guide policymakers in reducing plastic waste through a variety of interventions.
In short:
- Representatives from more than 150 countries are negotiating a treaty to address the plastic crisis, with final details expected later this year.
- The Global Plastics AI Policy Tool assesses the impact of 11 policy interventions on reducing plastic waste through 2050, predicting significant reductions with measures like minimum recycled content mandates and capping virgin plastic production.
- Expert Nivedita Biyani emphasizes the need for systemic changes in waste management, comparing current practices to outdated methods from the 1950s.
Key quote:
"Negotiators need to recognize that plastic pollution is an accelerating global crisis that cannot be solved with fragmented national approaches."
— Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF International’s global plastics policy lead
Why this matters:
Plastic pollution is a growing global crisis affecting both environmental and human health. Effective policies, informed by AI tools, are important for achieving significant reductions in plastic waste, especially in sectors like food packaging. Read more: Investigation: PFAS on our shelves and in our bodies.
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Credit: nito/BigStock PhotoID: 354384695
A unified effort is crucial for the successful negotiation of the global plastics treaty
A new global plastics treaty, currently under negotiation, seeks to address rampant plastic pollution and its environmental and health impacts.
In short:
- The treaty aims to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and the release of hazardous substances from plastics.
- There is broad support for the treaty from the public, researchers, and some businesses, yet significant resistance from fossil fuel-dependent nations and industries.
- The treaty's success depends on minimizing corporate interference and protecting scientific discussions from undue influence.
Key quote:
"The widespread support for the treaty is also striking. It comes from not only researchers, but also the public, civil society and businesses — 'all the stars are aligned,' as one of my colleagues says."
— Martin Wagner, Author
Why this matters:
This treaty represents a critical step toward improving public health by mitigating the environmental damage caused by plastics. Read more from our newsroom: “Plastic will overwhelm us:” Scientists say health should be the core of global plastic treaty.
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