UN Experts Demand Human Rights in Plastics Treaty

Ahead of the crucial Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Busan, South Korea, UN experts are urging the inclusion of accountability measures and human rights principles in the treaty. They emphasize that plastic producers must contribute to a global fund to support waste management and clean-up initiatives, particularly in developing countries burdened by plastic pollution. The experts warn that current negotiations risk shifting responsibility from plastic-producing nations to those that lack the resources to manage the crisis effectively. They advocate for transparency in disclosing pollutant types and quantities at every stage of the plastic lifecycle. The treaty should explicitly reference human rights and incorporate principles of prevention and accountability to mitigate the adverse impacts of plastic pollution. With humanity producing over 460 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, the urgency for a robust legal framework has never been clearer.