Reports and Analysis

Date Published : 30-10-2024

Updated at : 2024-11-11 10:18:58

Alaa Emara

Plastic pollution represents a major crisis for the ecosystem, making it imperative to bring this issue to the forefront of discussions at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to seek effective solutions.

While plastic has undeniably added value to our lives—it is affordable, versatile, hygienic, and widely used—it also harms terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Estimates suggest a sharp increase in plastic use over the past seven decades. In 1950, global plastic production was around 2 million tons; today, with population growth and increased human consumption, production has soared to over 450 million tons.

How Does Plastic Harm the Environment?
There are several ways in which plastic damages the environment:

  1. Animal Life
    Often, animals mistakenly consume plastic particles scattered in water or on land, believing them to be food. This plastic accumulates in their digestive systems, often resulting in death. Each year, more animals die due to plastic ingestion, disrupting the food web and unbalancing the ecosystem.

  2. Soil Health
    Plastic pollution covers the soil’s surface, affecting plant growth and soil health, ultimately impacting agricultural productivity.

  3. Harmful Emissions
    Plastic waste emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, especially when burned, such as carbon and chlorine oxides.

  4. Human Health
    Certain chemicals from bottles or other plastic products may leach into human bodies, potentially causing severe health issues, including endocrine disorders, weight gain, and overall health decline.

At the Conferences of the Parties
In 2024, there will be three Conferences of the Parties: COP16 on Biological Diversity in Colombia from October 21 to November 1, COP29 on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, and COP16 on Desertification in Saudi Arabia.

At the biodiversity conference, discussions focus on tackling pollution, including plastic pollution, to protect biodiversity. The heightened awareness of plastic waste’s role as a significant driver of species loss has spurred efforts to address ecosystem degradation.

These discussions are expected to continue at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which offers an important forum for proposing sustainable solutions and promoting dialogue on eliminating plastic. This conference will bring together thousands of experts and policymakers from across the globe, underscoring the COP meetings as critical platforms for negotiating and addressing the plastic pollution crisis before the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, set to take place at the end of November in Busan, South Korea.