Date Posted: 2024-11-25 20:02:05 | Video Duration: 00:16:34
In an unprecedented exploration in 2019, American adventurer Victor Vovo ventured deeper into the ocean than anyone before. He piloted his submarine into the Mariana Trench, reaching the Challenger Deep, the Earth’s most profound point, lying 10.9 kilometers beneath the surface. This is three kilometers deeper from sea level than Mount Everest’s peak. During this historic dive, Vovo encountered previously unknown crustacean species and vivid geological formations. However, even in this remote location, he found a plastic balloon with characters from Disney’s Frozen and a heavy-duty plastic bucket, stark reminders of humanity’s reach.
The omnipresence of plastic, a material around since 1855, is evident with over 400 million tons produced annually. Plastic is celebrated for its lightweight, flexible, and durable properties, making it ideal for countless uses. Yet, its resistance to degradation poses significant environmental challenges. A single plastic bottle may take 500 years to decompose, while polyethylene bags can persist for even longer. Each year, humanity adds approximately 50 kilograms of durable plastic per person to the environment, equivalent to 2,500 Coke bottles each, with many ending up in rivers and oceans, persisting for centuries.
This accumulation of non-degradable plastics presents not only an environmental crisis but also a health concern. Plastics leach microplastics into agricultural soils, contaminating food chains with toxic chemicals such as cadmium. Scientists have identified over 4,200 hazardous substances in plastics that accumulate in biological systems. Plastics’ environmental impact is pervasive, affecting various planetary boundaries ranging from climate change to freshwater systems and biodiversity.
Despite widespread recycling initiatives, only 9% of plastics are recycled globally. Half of all plastics end up in landfills, 20% are incinerated, contributing to air pollution, while the remainder is lost to the environment. Current solutions emphasizing consumer behavior and market-driven environmental pricing have been insufficient, as evidenced by the worsening plastic pollution problem.
A potential turning point is on the horizon. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, established by the UN Environment Assembly, is meeting in Busan, South Korea, to finalize a legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution. This treaty, under negotiation since a 2021 UN resolution in Nairobi, is described as crucial environmental legislation akin to the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Historically, international agreements like the Montreal Protocol, which phased out ozone-depleting substances, and the global phase-out of leaded petrol have shown that coordinated action can prevent environmental disasters. However, opposition from fossil fuel producers and plastic manufacturers could hinder treaty progress. With the U.S. being a significant plastic waste producer and political uncertainties, the treaty’s success may face challenges.
There is a division in the negotiation process. The High Ambition Coalition, led by Rwanda and Norway, pushes for comprehensive action across the plastic lifecycle, including a proposal to reduce global plastic production by 40% by 2040. Conversely, countries producing significant petrochemicals, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, advocate for national voluntary measures, focusing more on waste management than production cuts.
Environmental groups and scientists argue that reducing plastic production is essential to addressing plastic pollution. Circularizing the plastic economy through improved recycling and waste management, especially in developing countries, is necessary. Yet, the fundamental solution lies in cutting production and developing alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics.
The Busan treaty must be ambitious, incorporating global mandates to phase out plastic production, alongside support mechanisms for countries reliant on plastic manufacturing. It should also promote the development of sustainable plastic alternatives and enhanced waste management systems. Failure to address these issues effectively could result in a lasting geological legacy marked by plastic, akin to the asteroid impact layer that signifies the dinosaur extinction.