Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (for example, plastic bottles, bags and microbeads) in the Earth’s environment that adversely affects wildlife, the wildlife environment and humans.
Member states of the United Nations; agreed to begin negotiations for a global agreement that could set rules for the production, use and disposal of plastics.
The belief that plastic waste destroys habitats, harms wildlife and pollutes the food chain is growing, all these developments are causing concern.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) described the latest decision as “one of the most ambitious environmental actions to have reached a compromise” since the 1989 Montreal Protocol, which phased out ozone-depleting substances.
Professor at the University of Portsmouth. Steve Fletcher advises the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on plastics issues.
Professor Steve Fletcher says the plastic pollution has crossed borders and spread everywhere.
“No country, no matter how good its policies, cannot deal with plastic pollution alone. We need a global agreement that will enable us as a society to deal with the wide-ranging challenges posed by plastic.”
By 2024, world leaders need to reach consensus on what elements of the deal will be legally binding and how they will be financed.
Environmental organizations demand clear and strong global standards that will encourage countries to adhere to common rules and regulations regarding plastics and penalize harmful products and practices.
With the agreement, the pressure to help southern countries that suffer from plastic waste sent from northern countries will increase.
Prof. “There are debates about how to make sure that countries in the global south have the resources to deal with the plastic pollution crisis they are facing, and who pays for it,” Fletcher said.
