November 26, 2024
Cited article by Associated Press
HRRC underscores the urgent need for a global shift towards sustainable consumption practices. By addressing the root causes of plastic pollution, nations can safeguard the environment and ensure a healthier planet for future generations.
News Brief
In a fifth and final effort to establish and adopt a treaty to address the global plastics pollution crisis, negotiators from over 70 nations gathered in Busan, South Korea to make it legally binding. Discussions aimed to address the amount of plastic waste by monitoring and controlling the design, production, and consumption of plastices. The island nation of Micronesia, who has felt the serious impact of plastic pollution, led the effort to bring attention to the unsustainable use of the manmade material, called the Bridge to Busan.
According to a recent report published in Science, the planet is “choking on plastic... polluting lakes, oceans and people’s bodies." However, research shows that it is still possible to nearly end plastic pollution. Highlighted in the report are critical policies that can make the the most difference: "Mandating new products be made with 40% post-consumer recycled plastic; limiting new plastic production to 2020 levels; and implementing a small fee on plastic packaging."