Page 24 - Plastics News March 2022

1972 (UNEP@50). The special session Secretary of Environment of Kenya, ap- potentially affecting fertility, hormonal,
was held under the theme "Strengthen- plauded the passing of the resolution. metabolic and neurological activity, while
ing UNEP for the implementation of the ‘Triumph by planet earth’ open burning of plastics contributes to air
environmental dimension of the 2030 It will be based on open discussion, in- pollution.By 2050, greenhouse gas emis-
Agenda for Sustainable Development.” formed by science, and report back on sions associated with plastic production,
The landmark resolution addresses progress throughout the next two years. use and disposal, would account for 15
the full lifecycle of plastic, including Finally, upon completion of the INC’s per cent of allowed emissions, under the
its production, design and disposal. work, UNEP will convene a diplomatic goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C
On track ‘for a cure’ conference to adopt its outcome and (34.7°F) in line with the Paris Agreement
“Against the backdrop of geopolitical open it for signatures. It is an insurance on climate change.
turmoil, the UN Environment Assem- policy for this generation and future ones, More than 800 marine and coastal species
bly (UNEA-5) shows multilateral coop- so they may live with plastic and not be are affected by this pollution through in-
eration at its best,” said President of the doomed by it. Inger Andersen. “Today gestion, entanglement, and other dangers,
Assembly, and Norway’s Minister for Cli- marks a triumph by planet earth over while around 11 million tonnes of plastic
mate and the Environment, Espen Barth single-use plastics. This is the most sig- waste flow each year into the ocean. This
Eide. “Plastic pollution has grown into an nificant environmental multilateral deal could triple by 2040.
epidemic. With today’s resolution we are since the Paris accord. It is an insurance The historic resolution, entitled “End
officially on track for a cure.” policy for this generation and future ones, Plastic Pollution: Towards an interna-
Plastic pollution has grown into an epi- so they may live with plastic and not be tionally legally binding instrument”,
demic. With today’s resolution we are of- doomed by it.” said Inger Andersen, Ex- was adopted with the conclusion of the
ficially on track for a cure. Espen Barth ecutive Director of UNEP. “Let it be clear three-day UNEA-5.2 meeting, attended
Eide that the INC’s mandate does not grant by more than 3,400 in-person and 1,500
The resolution, based on three initial any stakeholder a two-year pause”, she online participants from 175 UN Mem-
draft resolutions from various nations, es- added. “In parallel to negotiations over an ber States, including 79 ministers and 17
tablishes an Intergovernmental Negotiat- international binding agreement, UNEP high-level officials.
ing Committee (INC) which will begin will work with any willing government The Assembly will be followed by
its work this year, aiming to complete a and business across the value chain to “UNEP@50,” a two-day Special Session
draft legally binding agreement by the shift away from single-use plastics, as well of the Assembly, marking UNEP’s 50th
end of 2024.That in turn, is expected as to mobilise private finance and remove anniversary where Member States are ex-
to present a legally binding instrument, barriers to investments in research and in pected to address how to build a resilient
which would reflect diverse alternatives a new circular economy”. and inclusive post-pandemic world.
to address the full lifecycle of plastics, the Scale of the problem Protecting nature at the core of
design of reusable and recyclable products Dandora landfill in Nairobi, Kenya, SDGs: Deputy UN chief
and materials, and the need for enhanced where much of the waste in the landfill In her remarks to the UN Environment
international collaboration to facilitate is plastic. Assembly, the Deputy Secretary-General,
access to technology, to allow the revolu- Plastic pollution soared from two million Amina Mohammed, noted the theme was
tionary plan to be realized. The UN Envi- tonnes in 1950, to 348 million tonnes based around "Strengthening Actions for
ronment Programme (UNEP) said that it in 2017, becoming a global industry Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Devel-
would convene a forum by the end of this valued at $522.6 billion, said UNEP. opment Goals”."One thing we know for
year in conjunction with the first session It is expected to double in capacity, by certain is that protecting nature is at the
of the INC, to share knowledge and best 2040. The impacts of plastic production core of achieving the 2030 Agenda and
practices in different parts of the world. and pollution on the triple planetary the goals of the Paris Agreement", she
UNEP/Cyril Villemain crisis of climate change, nature loss and said."If we are to ensure food and water
UNEA President Espen Barth Eide (right), pollution are a catastrophe in the mak- security for all people around the world,
UNEP Executive Director Inger Anders- ing, the UN agency said, with exposure we need to prevent ecosystem collapse."
en (center) and Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet to plastics harming human health, and COP26 underscored the need to keep the

24 PLASTICS NEWS March 2022