Nairobi Summit to Draft Blueprint for UN Treaty on Global Plastics

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The United Nations (UN) member states will meet later this month in Nairobi, Kenya to draft the blueprint for a global plastics treaty. By way of this treaty, the member countries are set to reach a joint agreement on reducing the amount of single-use plastics they produce and consume. The milestone environmental pact is considered as the most important among such treaties since the Paris Agreement on Climate Change signed in 2015.

As per estimates, the oil and chemical industry is set to double worldwide plastic output over the next two decades. The dramatic jump in plastic output will cause increased carbon emissions, spoil the world’s oceans, causes harm to wildlife and contaminates food chain. Over 50 countries, including the EU-27 countries have called for inclusion of measures that cut plastic production.

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Major plastic industry groups, including the U.S.-based American Chemistry Council (ACC) have publicly expressed support for the global treaty. However, behind the scenes they are seen formulating strategies to persuade the meet participants to reject any deal that would limit plastic manufacturing.

It must be noted that single-use plastic accounts for nearly 40% of all global plastic production.