Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognized danger to human and planetary health” and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1·5 trillion annually, a report said as delegations from 179 countries meet in Geneva ready a framework of action to curbplastic pollution. growing
According to more than two dozen health experts cited in the journal, infants and young children are particularly vulnerable
“In 2024 alone, humanity was projected to consume over 500 million tons of plastic. Of this, 399 million tons will become waste,” Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (or the INC) on Plastic Pollution, and Head of the INC Secretariat, said. growing
The latest forecasts indicate that plastic leakage into the environment will grow 50 per cent by 2040. growing
Plastic waste horror: More dangerous effects than previously thought
“The cost of damages from plastic pollution could rise as high as a cumulative $281 trillion between 2016 and 2040,” she maintained. growing
The delegates will meet for 10 days from August 5-14 to pore over the INC text as they meet at UN Geneva, alongside more than 1,900 other participants from 618 observer organizations including scientists, environmentalists and industry representatives.
A key aim of the meeting is to share tried and tested ways of reducing plastic use such as non-plastic substitutes and other safer alternatives.
Ahead of the talks in Geneva, the respected medical journal The Lancet published a warning that the materials used in plastics cause extensive disease “at every stage of the plastics life cycle and at every stage of human life”. growing
The world community is striving to finalize a global agreement to tackle the staggering and growing amount of plastic waste and its impact on human health, marine life and the economy.
Unless an international accord is inked, plastic waste is projected to triple by 2060, causing significant damage – including to our health – according to the UN Environment Program (UNEP).
The UNEP-led talks follow a decision in 2022 by Member States to meet and develop an international legally binding instrument to end the plastic pollution crisis, including in the marine environment, within two years.
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Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 20 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 2010.
