Can countries solve the problem of plastic pollution?

Plastic production has exploded in the last century – for some it has been a miracle product while for others it is a pollution nightmare.

Scientists have speculated that about 200 trillion pieces are floating in the world’s oceans, And if no action is taken, it can be three times.

In 2022, countries agreed to develop a legally binding global treaty for cutting waste and harmful chemicals include some plastic – but no compromise has been reached after two years.

On Tuesday, the nation of the world meets again at a United Nations Conference in Geneva – can they finally agree how to stop the excess of plastic?

Human societies have used plastic that occur naturally in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, as rubber, horn and shelac.

But the 20th century brought fossil plastic explosions, which was made from the processing of fossil fuels.

The versatility, strength and heat resistant properties of the material have lended themselves for thousands of uses from sewage pipes to life-saving medical equipment.

Research Scientist of National Oceanography Center, Dr. Alice Horton explains, without understanding its full effect, it has become omnipresent in a short time.

Dr. Horton said, “Plastic has been surrounded by any time for life on earth, people who were not using plastic as children. I think it makes a large extent make a related material,” Dr. Horton said.

“It has exploded in such a way that we are using it in every application in our life and yet we are suddenly feeling that it may have problems with it.”

The level of plastic production has increased rapidly in the last few decades. Two million tonnes were produced in 1950, by 2022 which increased to 475 million tonnes.

Although plastic can be reused, the cost and availability of the recycling infrastructure means very low. All plastic has about 60% single uses and only 10% is estimated to be recycled, Analysis in Nature.

Plastic is shown to accumulate in the sea environment where it causes special problems for wildlife that can swallow it.

“They can confuse it as food, which then damage their internal organs and can also be fatal due to digestion difficulties,” said the Global Plastic Policy in WWF, the Zayanab Sadan.

He said that they may also have been entangled in fishing gear or plastic packaging which have entered the sea from the sewage system.

When it enters the environment, most plastic breaks into small and small pieces – which is known as microplastics. They have been found in all geographical categories, from the deep sea to the top of the mountain, and all ever tested in all living systems.

Research continues to understand the full effect, better than others with different species. But Dr. of National Oceanography Center. Horton has warned that there is a threshold where animals will start harming.

“When we [get] The accumulation of plastic in tissues we begin to see inflammation, cell damage, hormonal changes. Things that are not lump sum for killing an organism, but this accumulated, long -term effect that they become weak and weak, and become sick and sick, and either become diseased or die, “he explained.

According to a new expert report, plastic is a “serious, growing and low-recognized threats” for human health.

Lancet countdown It is estimated that health disease and death health loss from “plastic crisis” is responsible for at least $ 1.5TN (£ 1.1TN) per year.

These effects can lead to cancer, respiratory diseases and risk of miscarriage from plastic contamination from air pollution to plastic contamination in our body.

Plastic contains over 16,000 chemicals such as dye and flame retardments, some of which are toxic and cancerous producers.

Despite the growing body of evidence of plastic dangers, the lensate report states that there is a lack of transparency in most products. Just a quarter of plastic chemicals contain data on the effects, but the test of 75% was found “highly dangerous”.

In 2022, a global treaty was required in two years to deal with the issue.

This time limit was passed in December 2024, after a five -round conversation, in which no treaty was done.

On Tuesday, more than 170 nations will meet again to try to make a deal on the line.

The main issues they are trying to compromise on:

• Target on cutting the production level of single-use plastic
• Ban on some of the most harmful chemicals in plastic
• Universal guidance on the design of plastic products
• Financing this effort

Products that continuously meet design standards can improve recycling, save costs and reduce the demand for finance leading lead in virgin plastic, Rob opsomer, plastic executive lead and Ellen McArthur Foundation, which conceives the trade alliance for a global plastic treaty, centered.

“So, to give you an example, a beverage bottle, if it is colored, then the value of what you can receive is a clear, untold bottle’s half value,” he explained.

Around 100 countries, including the UK, are calling for a “ambitious” treaty that will include a commitment to limit production levels. But a group of oil producing countries, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, have been strongly opposed, who want to focus on dialogue less production, but recycling more.

The demand for oil in global energy and transport systems is expected to be at its peak over the next few years as the countries go into greenery technologies. This can release plastic as one of some growth markets for the oil industry. Any attempt to limit production can cause short -term economic damage to petrochets.

But because of not being clear for those users of plastic, global rules are spending them.

“This is a fundamental risk. Businesses do not want packaging with their brand names, on which the streets and our oceans to garbage,” said Mr. Opsomer.

He said that plastic was also cost for businesses to follow hundreds of new standards globally every year.

Business alliances, including some of the largest global users of plastic such as Nestle and Unilever, are calling governments to introduce coordinated taxes on their businesses to help pay the recycling costs and clean the plastic waste.

Single-use plastic is the largest contributor to plastic waste in the environment, and most of its daily consumption comes from food packaging.

If you are receiving a take -off, you can take a reusable container or cup, and when purchasing food considering taking a re -appropriate seal bag to weigh your fruits and vegetables.

it is estimated More than a quarter of microplastics in the environment come from the tire of the car. For those who are capable, walking and cycling for local shops or can share car trips with friends or neighbors.

And avoid plastic that breaks microplastic more easily – such as chewing gum and glitter. There are still many non-plastic options available, which means that you can have fun in festivals.