001-40 WC 139 NOV-DEC24 PAPERTURN - Flipbook - Page 32
PLASTICS
Delegates at the UN are mindful that environmental and
social harm caused by plastic waste and pollution have led to a
surge in new national government laws and policies. Many of
these new rules are designed to control the production and use
of single-use plastic products. The legislation which is currently
being developed by countries and cities is not, however, always
comprehensive or effective. There is often a lack of clear guidance
on what should be included.
Plastic products designed to be used only once before they are
disposed of, termed “single-use plastic products,” are increasingly
regulated by governments concerned about the environmental,
social, health, or other impacts of plastic waste and pollution.
Now, at UN negotiations, some of the most used national and
regional regulatory approaches are being vigorously debated.
The focus is on addressing the environmental impacts of marine
plastic litter and pollution from single-use plastic products.
New global rules are being debated that would regulate plastic
production and consumption in ways that reduce the harmful
impacts of single-use plastic products. Other approaches focus
on promoting alternatives, and/or improving the management,
recycling, and final disposal of single-use plastic waste.
Among the various types of principal regulatory approaches
that are being actively considered:
Bans and restrictions directly prohibit the production, importation or exportation, distribution, sale, or use of one or more
single-use plastic products.
Economic instruments impose taxes to deter production or
use of single-use plastics or offer tax breaks, subsidies, or other
fiscal incentives to encourage the production and use of alternatives to single-use plastic products.
Product standards, certification, and labeling requirements can
be designed to target sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics
or to mitigate the harm caused by single-use plastics
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes use a
combination of regulatory approaches to extend manufacturers’
responsibility for single-use plastic products throughout their life
cycle, including to the end-of-life stage.
Waste management legislation can be amended so it better
fosters opportunities for single-use plastics to be recovered,
recycled, or reused.
Other regulatory approaches that have been legislated to effect
a change in consumer and producer behavior include consumer education programs, funds or prizes; public procurement
requirements; reuse incentives; and public private partnerships.
A series of important reports were published in 2022. Global
Plastics Outlook: economic drivers, environmental impacts and
policy options was one of these. Another was Where Is the Value
in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution. Still others,
published during the past 18 months, have added to the drumbeat at key international institutions, most especially the UN
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and OECD and World Bank. A wave of global initiatives is now
building momentum, all of them aiming to tighten regulations in
ways that will reduce waste-streams. Looking at these initiatives,
what is likely to transpire during the coming months and years?
Each of these multilateral agencies now have major initiatives
underway. Significant funds are at stake — tens of billions of
pounds, in fact.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), leads the
negotiation process for the US. During the first negotiations
meeting in Uruguay for a global plastics treaty, the U.S. put
forward some ideas that were aimed towards a treaty that is “ambitious, effective, and enforceable.” The U.S. government believes
the treaty should do the following:
Set ambitious targets to reduce plastic pollution, including a
phase-down of the most harmful single-use plastics.
Establish binding obligations on countries to meet their
targets.
Provide for strong enforcement mechanisms to ensure countries comply with their obligations.
Promote innovation and technology transfer to help countries
reduce plastic pollution.
Support developing countries in their efforts to reduce plastic
pollution.
The U.S. negotiators say they are also open to the idea of a
treaty that includes a mix of voluntary and mandatory measures,
as long as the treaty is ambitious and effective. The U.S. government says it is fully committed to working with other countries
to negotiate a strong and effective plastics treaty that will protect
the environment and human health.
However, the U.S. government has been criticized by environmental advocacy NGOs for not being ambitious enough in
its approach to the plastics treaty. Environmental NGOs want
the U.S. government to support a treaty that includes a binding
cap on plastic production, a phase-down of all single-use plastics,
and strong enforcement mechanisms. They argue that the current
U.S. government position is not sufficient to address the global
plastic pollution crisis.
The U.S. government has defended its position, arguing it is
the most realistic and achievable approach to a plastics treaty.
The U.S. government believes that a treaty that is too ambitious
will be difficult to negotiate and implement, and will ultimately
be ineffective. U.S. negotiators are also concerned about the
economic impact of a binding cap on plastic production.
The U.S. government is likely to face pressure from environmental NGOs to adopt a more ambitious position, but it is also
likely to face resistance from industry groups. The U.S. government’s representatives have said they will need to balance these
competing interests in order to reach an agreement that is both
effective and achievable.
