Page 30 - Plastics News March 2022

UNEA-5 Considers Proposals for Global Plastic Pollution Treaty
to sea – should be legally binding, ac-
companied by support to developing
countries, backed by financing mecha-
nisms, tracked by strong monitoring
mechanisms, and incentivising all stake-
holders – including the private sector.”
In addition to an agreement on plastic
pollution, UNEA-5 delegates discussed
a series of green issues, including biodi-
versity and health, green economy and
circularity. A resolution on plastic pol-
lution and other issues will be decided
by the member states during the closing
plenary meeting. According to reports
nited Nations (UN) member Achieve the Sustainable Development from Associated Press two main propos-
Ucountries are reviewing proposals Goals’. At the meeting, the assembly als have emerged after years of global
for a global agreement to address the is- proposed for a global framework to ad- discussions on the reduction of single-
sue of plastic pollution at the fifth ses- dress the increasing problem of plastic use plastic. One of these is a proposal by
sion of the UN Environment Assembly waste entering oceans, rivers and land- Peru and Rwanda calling for the crea-
(UNEA-5). The three-day hybrid con- scapes. UN Environment Programme tion of an international legally binding
ference was held between 28 February (UNEP) executive director Inger An- agreement to reduce plastic pollution.
and 2 March in Nairobi, Kenya, and dersen said: “I have complete faith that The other proposal, sponsored by Japan,
attended by environment ministers once endorsed by the Assembly, we advocates an international agreement to
and other representatives from more will have something truly historic on solve plastic pollution in marine envi-
than 170 countries. The member coun- our hands. “Ambitious action to beat ronments. Both of these proposals would
tries were meeting under the theme of plastic pollution should track the lifes- involve establishing a panel to com-
‘Strengthening Actions for Nature to pan of plastic products – from source plete a new plastic agreement by 2024.

Australia and Indonesia partner to address Plastic pollution

Trade. Launched on 1 March, the A$1.3m this environmental challenge into an eco-
($940,790) partnership will bring together nomic opportunity by changing the way
researchers, investors and major stakehold- we behave, and how we make, use, recy-
ers, including private and public-sector cle or dispose of plastics, but it will take
businesses, to develop solutions to tackle partnerships across research, business, in-
plastic waste in Indonesia’s oceans and wa- vestors, government and the community
terways. CSIRO estimates that there are to turn the best ideas into real-world solu-
between five billion and ten billion indi- tions. “Social innovation is just as impor-
vidual pieces of plastic on coastlines in the tant as scientific innovation in solving these
Indo-Pacific region. The project is part of challenges, so it’s exciting to have partners
ustralia and Indonesia have recently CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission, on the ground in the region shaping and
Aestablished a partnership that aims to through which it aims to reduce plastic scaling behavioural response for their own
tackle plastic pollution in the Indo-Pacific waste entering the environment by 80% communities, and drive change.” The Hub
region. Earlier this month ‘The Plastics by 2030. The hub will use artificial intel- builds on CSIRO’s existing collaboration
Innovation Hub Indonesia’ project was ligence (AI) and other advanced technolo- with the Indonesian Government and
recently launched by the Commonwealth gies to identify and track pollution in wa- Udayana University to measure, analyse
Scientific and Industrial Research Organi- terways, as well as use enzymes to degrade and chart plastic pollution in Bali, Java and
sation (CSIRO), Australia’s national sci- polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic other regions
ence agency, and the Australian govern- and microplastics. CSIRO chief executive
ment’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Dr Larry Marshall said: “Science can turn

30 PLASTICS NEWS March 2022