Can countries solve the plastic pollution problem?

Plastic production exploded in the last century – some of them are a miracle product, one of the pollution nightmare for others.

Scientists estimate that there are about 200 trillion pieces floating in the world oceans. And if no action is not taken, it may three times.

In 2022, countries agreed to develop a legally binding global treaty to cut waste and contained harmful chemicals contained in some plastics – but no agreement was reached two years later.

On Tuesday, the world countries meet again at a UN conference in Geneva – can they finally accept how to prevent plastic excesses?

Human societies have used plastics that have occurred naturally in the form of rubber, horn and gomalak for hundreds of years.

However, the 20th century brought the synthetic plastic explosion of the processing of fossil fuels.

The versatility of the material, strength and heat resistant properties have given thousands of use, from sewer pipes to life -saving medical equipment and clothes.

National Occupational Center Research Scientist Alice Horton explains that it is everywhere in a short time without understanding its full effect.

“There are people who have been proportional to life in the world, there are people who haven’t used plastics as a child.

He continued: “We exploded in every application in our lives and we still realize that there may be problems related to it.”

Plastic production levels have increased exponentially in the last few decades. In 1950, two million tons were produced by 2022 to 475 million tons.

Although the plastic can be reused, the cost and existence of the recycling infrastructure means very few. Approximately 60% of all plastics are disposable and only 10% are estimated to be recycled. According to the analysis Nature.

Plastic has been shown to accumulate in the sea environment, where certain problems arise for wild life that can swallow it.

“They can mix this as food that can lead to death because of digestive difficulties,” WWF global plastic policy leader Zaynab Sadan said, “it then damages its internal organs.” He said.

In addition, the ocean can be mixed with fishing equipment or plastic packages entering the sewage systems.

When it enters the environment, most plastic is divided into smaller and smaller pieces known as germs. They have been found in all geographical intervals from deep sea to mountain hills and all living systems that have been tested so far.

Research continues to understand the full effect of different species than others. However, Dr Horton of the National Oshinography Center warns that animals are a threshold that will begin to damage.

“We [get] Plastic accumulation in tissues began to see inflammation, cell damage, hormonal changes. They will not explicitly kill an organism, but they will have long -term impact, which is weak and weak and weaker, or accumulated, accumulated or dying, either.

According to a new expert report, plastics are “grave, a growing and less recognized danger” for human health.

. LANCET Countdown It is estimated that death is responsible for health and “plastic crisis” at least $ 1.5 million (£ 1.1 million) per year for health -related damages.

These effects may vary from plastic production to air pollution, high cancer risk, respiratory diseases and plastic contamination in our body.

Plastics contain more than 16,000 chemicals, some of which are toxic and cancer -causing paints and flame retardants.

Despite the increasing body of plastic hazards, the Lancet report emphasizes that there is a lack of transparency of what is in most products. There are only one quarter of plastic chemicals about the effects of the effects, but 75% of the tested were found to be “very dangerous”.

In 2022, countries acknowledged that a global agreement was needed in two years to solve the issue.

This deadline was not signed after five rounds of negotiations in December 2024.

On Tuesday, more than 170 countries will be gathered again to make an agreement on the line.

The main problems they are trying to get into an agreement include:

• Targets to reduce the production levels of disposable plastics
• Prohibits some of the most harmful chemicals in plastic
• Universal guidance on the design of plastic products
• Financing of this effort

The products that need to meet consistent design standards can help improve recycling, cost cost savings and demand for virgin plastics, Plastic and Finance Manager Rob Opsomer, who positions the business coalition together for a global plastic agreement, said to the BBC.

“So, to give you an example, a beverage bottle, if it is colored, the value you can get from it if you sell the recycled material is half of a clear, colored bottle.”

Approximately 100 countries, including the UK, call for a “ambitious” treaty that contains a commitment to limiting production levels. However, a group of oil -producing country, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, was a strong opposition that wanted negotiations to focus on further recycling, not to produce less.

As countries go into greener technologies, oil demand in global energy and transportation systems is expected to peak in the next few years. This can leave plastic as one of the few growth markets for the oil industry. Efforts to limit production may cause short -term economic damage to petrostats.

However, global arrangements cost them for non -clear users of plastic users.

“This is a basic risk. Businesses do not want to fill the streets and oceans with the brand name on the brand name.” He said.

He also said that businesses have a cost of compliance with hundreds of new standards on plastics every year.

The business coalition, which includes some of the largest global plastic users such as Nestle and Unilever, wants governments to impose coordinated taxes on businesses to help pay the cost of recycling and cleaning plastic wastes.

Disposable plastic contributes to the surrounding plastic waste, and most of our daily consumption comes from food packaging.

If you buy a package with a package service, you can get a reusable container or cup and consider buying a reusable seal bag to weigh your food exchange, fruits and vegetables.

Estimated More than one quarter of the surrounding germs come from car tires. For possible, you can help walk to local shops and ride a bike or share car journeys with friends or neighbors.

And avoid plastics that are easier to separated into microplastics such as gum and glow. There are many alternatives that still exist, which means you can continue to have fun at festivals.