UN Negotiations Expected to Finalize Global Plastic Pollution Treaty in 2024

The global crisis of single-use plastics is increasingly recognized for its severe environmental and health impacts, with plastics polluting waterways, harming wildlife, and entering human bodies as microplastics carrying toxic chemicals. While international negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution have faced delays and disagreements, particularly over reducing plastic production, some progress is seen at subnational levels, such as U.S. states implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws to hold producers accountable for plastic waste management. The United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) aims to finalize a treaty by the end of 2024, addressing the full life cycle of plastics from production to pollution, which is critical to equitable cost distribution and effective reduction efforts. The treaty discussions are complicated by competing interests, including fossil fuel dependency and the potential for increased plastic production as a substitute for fossil fuel revenues. Scientific calls emphasize the need for a legally binding global agreement that comprehensively addresses plastics from raw material extraction through disposal to effectively mitigate their pervasive environmental and social harms. Meanwhile, practical solutions and consumer guidance advocate for reducing reliance on single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives and recycling improvements.