Countries have taken a massive step in joining the fight against ocean pollution by agreeing to develop a historic treaty targeting plastic pollution, as reported by the BBC.
173 countries have agreed to start negotiations on a global treaty that aims to tackle the crisis of plastic pollution in our oceans. The countries met at the United Nations Environmental Assembly earlier this month. During the assembly, the countries decided to form a new committee to identify how to reduce plastic pollution. The committee aims to start working on the legally binding treaty later this year.
Plastic pollution is a severe threat to our ocean, wildlife and planet as it harms animals, contaminates the food chain and destroys habitats. There is estimated to be five trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean, which can take years to break down. By the time the plastic breaks down, the damage is already done. Plastic in the ocean can cause many problems, including trapping animals, being mistaken for food, or releasing chemicals harmful to wildlife.
Following the agreement, UN countries will now look to develop a framework on how to reduce plastic waste across the world. The treaty will set rules relating to every stage of the plastic process, from design and production to the use and disposal of plastic. It is hoped that a draft of the treaty will be finalised by 2024. Before this deadline, countries will need to discuss and agree on various elements, including funding and whether obligations can be met.
As the Paris Agreement does to combat climate change, this treaty is a welcome agreement for countries worldwide to join forces and reduce the environmental risks of plastic. The World Wildlife Fund has described the move as one of the most ambitious environmental steps taken since the 1989 Montreal Protocol, which laid out plans for phasing out substances that caused ozone depletion.
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