Ottawa talks aim to forge a global treaty on plastic pollution

International discussions continue in Canada, aiming to finalize a global treaty to combat plastic pollution by year's end.

Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters.

In short:

• A potential global treaty on plastic pollution is being negotiated, with the aim to regulate the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
• Contentious debates focus on production limits and transparency requirements among nations and industry.
• The negotiations involve a wide range of participants, including nations, industry representatives, scientists and environmental groups, with final talks scheduled for December in South Korea.

Key quote:

"The plastic industry now accounts for 5% of global carbon emissions, which could grow to 20% by 2050 if current trends continue."

— U.S. federal Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report

Why this matters:

This treaty represents a major global effort to address not only the rapidly accelerating environmental impact of plastics, which pollute landscapes and waterways, but also their significant contribution to global carbon emissions. A growing number of scientists and advocates, however, say the treaty negotiations have not put a strong enough priority on protecting human health. For more on that, read: “Plastic will overwhelm us:” Scientists say health should be the core of global plastic treaty.