"Combatting Plastic Pollution: Prioritize Research Over Lobbying in UN Treaty"
As the world grapples with the ever-growing crisis of plastic pollution, the upcoming United Nations negotiations on a global plastics treaty have become a crucial battleground. Scientists, armed with a wealth of knowledge on the toxicity, biology, and economics of this environmental scourge, are pushing to have a meaningful voice in the proceedings. However, they face an uphill battle, as fossil fuel-producing nations and industry lobbyists work to narrow the treaty's focus, prioritizing recycling targets over more comprehensive solutions.
The stakes are high, as the negotiations could either result in a groundbreaking agreement to tackle the plastic plague or a watered-down compromise that fails to address the sheer scale of the problem. With the draft text ballooning from 31 to nearly 100 pages, it's clear that countries are far apart on the key issues. The scientists' coalition, a network of international researchers, have stepped up to provide scientific advice to low-income nations that may lack the necessary expertise, but their access to the negotiation rooms has been limited.
"Much is known about the toxicity, biology, and chemistry of plastics pollution, and the economics of the industry," says a Nature editorial. "But there are gaps, especially around how various aspects of the plastic production and disposal streams affect people and their livelihoods. Research is needed to resolve these issues and to make the treaty work."
The editorial also highlights the need for a robust Science-Policy Interface for Plastic Pollution, a mechanism that has yet to be established, to ensure that independent scientific knowledge guides the negotiations. The exclusion of publicly funded university researchers from the "government" category, which would have required them to represent their governments, has been a barrier to their participation.
"Finding solutions to the plastic problem has to be a multisectoral, multinational, and genuinely collegial effort," the editorial states. "No amount of recycling is going to stop the deluge of plastic coming into the economy. Negotiators need to accept that the only way that better waste management and recycling will work is if less plastic is made in the first place."
As the world watches the upcoming talks in Ottawa, the scientific community is calling for a seat at the table, hoping to steer the negotiations towards a comprehensive, evidence-based solution that can truly address the global plastic crisis. The future of our planet's health may very well hinge on the outcome of these critical discussions.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01089-2
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