Before the meeting, a study was presented that shows the extent of the problem. The study states that if global plastic production continues to grow at an unchanged rate, it alone will consume the entire Earth’s carbon budget by 2083. In order not to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree target, the production of primary plastics must decrease by at least 12 to 17 percent per year from and with 2024.
The expert on site in Canada
Last November, the third meeting on the Global Plastics Agreement was held in Nairobi, Kenya. Broadly speaking, that meeting ended in a stalemate where the countries could not agree. Therefore, many have high hopes for this week’s ongoing meeting.
Tara Olsen, researcher at Lund University, follows the negotiations on the ground in Canada. To Environment & Development, she says that things are moving forward slowly but surely.
– This week, I hope that the text is more concrete, because now there are many sweeping formulations. So hopefully we will have a text that clarifies how measures to reduce the amount of plastic in society should be implemented.
Has anything surprised you?
– I am shocked by the amount of false information that is spread about plastic. Outside the negotiation rooms, people are standing and campaigning that plastic production benefits the environment and human health. These are misleading messages that come from companies that benefit from plastic production, and that want us to live as we do today. I don’t want to mention any names, but you can guess who they are. Now it is important to ensure that this type of information does not enter the negotiations.
What do you think the agreement ends up being?
– It will probably be watered down, as with all international agreements. But it’s too early to say how it will land.
What is your biggest concern?
– One point that has not been discussed yet is the decision-making process, whether it requires consensus between all countries or whether it is enough that we vote on different parts. We hope that it will be possible to vote, otherwise the decision-making process may take a very long time. Just look at the Paris Agreement. When it was negotiated, it was a state that wanted consensus instead of voting. It has meant 30 years of very slow negotiation processes in all COP meetings. It would be very unfortunate if that happened with the plastic agreement.
When will it be decided whether there will be a consensus or a vote?
– Probably in November or December.
What is the most important message you want to send?
– The most important message is that the agreement is underway, and will hopefully be in place by the end of the year. It will change the way we handle plastic and raise awareness of how harmful plastic actually is for the environment and our health.
