Viet Nam Human Rights
Global efforts strengthened to reduce plastic waste
18/6/19
Environment and energy ministers from G20 countries recently convened a meeting in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, during which they agreed to set up a new international framework in order to tackle the problem of marine plastic waste, one of the most pressing threats to the environment presently.
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The combination of energy and environmental policies is expected to be more effective in combating climate change and protecting the “green planet”.
This was the first time the G20 group organised a conference with the participation of ministers in charge of both energy and environment. The combination of these two areas is said to help the world make more appropriate and binding policies. Similar to the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change, the solution to plastic waste requires the efforts and cooperation of the international community. This is one of the top priorities on the G20 agenda. In addition, setting up new international regulations to realise the goal of reducing plastic waste, an urgent global issue today, was also the main content discussed at the two-day meeting in Karuizawa.
As the host country and the chair of the conference, Japan took the lead in dealing with the problem of plastic waste. Tokyo proposed the idea of establishing a new international framework to promote efforts in reducing plastic waste discharged into the oceans, as well as discussing technical assistance for developing countries in reducing plastic litter. The meeting focused on discussing the development of a system of norms applicable to both emerging economies and developing countries. Developed countries are expected to announce action plans, including solutions to increase the plastic recycling rates and support developing nations. Participants also discussed the mechanism of periodic reporting and mutual inspection, and the expansion of data collection and analysis in order to thoroughly understand the status of ocean plastic waste worldwide. A common facility to address plastic waste will be installed in Indonesia this autumn.
As agreed at the conference, G20 member states will take voluntary measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste dumped into the oceans and report on their activities periodically. This is an effort of G20 members in the face of marine plastic waste causing widespread pollution and affecting the habitat of marine animals. According to the United Nations, humans discharge about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, of which up to eight million tonnes float into the oceans. Most plastic waste come from Asian countries, including G20 member states. Micro-sized plastic particles of less than 5 mm can accumulate in fish which are dangerous to human health if ingested.
A report published by the World Wildlife Fund (WFF) on the level of plastic pollution has warned that each week, a person could ingest a bank card (equivalent to 5g of plastics) into his body. The comparison shows that the harm of microplastics to human health has reached the level of red alert. In response to a call for the world’s urgent action to end plastic pollution, many European Union (EU) member states have issued a ban on the use of major microplastics in the production of cosmetics. The European Parliament has recommended the European Commission establish a continent-wide ban on all microplastics used in the production of cosmetics and detergents from now until 2020, while taking measures to reduce the plastic particles discharged from fabrics, tires, paint and cigarette filters.
According to statistics from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as many as 127 countries around the world have issued laws related to the use of plastic bags, 91 of which have banned or restricted the production, imports and distribution of plastic products. A total of 180 countries have reached a consensus on drastically reducing the amount of plastic waste dumped into the oceans.
The Japanese government has launched a set of policies aiming to reduce plastic waste in the oceans, as part of the efforts to raise the importance of this problem at the G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in Osaka, Japan at the end of this month. With a new international framework set up within the G20, the world’s joint hands in resolving marine plastic waste, one of the most pressing environmental problems, are expected to ease a big concern for humanity in the fight against climate change.
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All comments [ 20 ]
The world is waking up to a crisis of ocean plastic—and we're tracking the developments and solutions as they happen.
The world has a plastic pollution problem and it’s snowballing—but so is public awareness and action.
Plastic pollution is threatening the marine ecosystem worldwide.
Over the next ten years, the amount of marine plastic waste will double and if we do not act, in 2050 the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish by weight.
822,200 tonnes of plastic waste were produced in 2016. That's about 150kg per person every year! Out of this, only 7 percent is recycled. The rest is incinerated and sent to the landfill.
Some plastic items can be recycled. These include drink bottles, shampoo bottles, plastic bags, bread wrappers, and some takeaway food containers.
Check for the "recycling" symbol before putting plastics in the recycling bin. Wash all plastics clean of food waste and residue before recycling.
Not all plastic waste gets incinerated. A lot of plastic, especially light items like straws and plastic bags, get blown or swept away into our drains and into the sea.
Plastic makes up 90 percent of marine litter. Plastic waste hurts and kills marine animals.
Small animals are smothered in plastic bags, while large animals such as turtles and dolphins get trapped in plastic nets and plastic rings. Entangled animals die a slow death from starvation and suffocation.
Fish and shellfish consume tiny plastic pieces, which accumulate when they are eaten by larger fish. Plastic itself is toxic, but it also absorbs lots of poisonous chemicals from the ocean. Many of these fish are caught and eaten by humans, along with the plastics and chemicals that they contain.
Essentially, you are eating the plastic you put into the ocean. We still don't fully understand what consuming plastics can do to the body.
plastics contain chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects, immune system suppression, reproductive problems, and developmental problems in children.
Plastic bags are not biodegradable. They fly off thrash piles, garbage trucks, and landfills, and then clog storm water infrastructure, float down waterways, and spoil the landscape.
Plastic bags also pose a serious danger to birds and marine mammals that often mistake them for food.
Thousands of animals die each year after swallowing or choking on discarded plastic bags. This mistaken identity issue is apparently a problem even for camels in the Middle East!
Some businesses have stopped offering their customers plastic bags, and many communities are considering a ban on plastic bags
Some countries are experimenting with solutions like mandatory deposits, purchasing fees, and outright bans.
The usefulness of these thin and easily ripped bags is extremely limited, yet according to one estimate, somewhere between five billion and one trillion plastic bags are used each year around the world. Although free to shoppers, these bags have a high environmental cost and are one of the most ubiquitous forms of garbage.
Bringing your own plastic bag is common but good environmental advice, such good advice that some governments implement policies to encourage more people to do it.
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