On March 2nd, 175 nations agreed to end plastic pollution and are creating an international, legally-binding agreement that will be completed by 2024. This treaty will address the production, design, and disposal of plastic, including the design of reusable and recyclable plastics.
This treaty emerged from the drastic increase in plastic pollution over the years. From 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 348 million metric tons in 2017, the global plastic pollution is still rising and is expected to double by 2040. Plastic pollution contributes to greenhouse gas emissions related to climate change, as well as the endangerment of marine and coastal species due to ingestion of plastics (among other issues) and a variety of health issues in humans.
This treaty to end plastic pollution can reduce plastic that enters oceans by 80%, reduce virgin plastic production by 55%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2040. It will also save governments billions of dollars and create thousands of additional jobs.
“Today marks a triumph by planet earth over single-use plastics. This is the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord. It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it.”
– Inger Anderson, Executive Director of UNEP
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