The European Union has officially signed the Bridge to Busan Declaration, marking a significant step towards creating an international and legally binding framework aimed at moderating the production of primary plastic polymers and addressing the important issue of plastic pollution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Urgency to Address Rising Plastic Production
The Declaration comes in response to alarming predictions that the production of primary plastic polymers could surge exponentially by 2050, if not monitored. Such an increase threatens to overwhelm national waste management and recycling infrastructures, pushing the global population further away from its goals to eliminate plastic pollution and limit global temperature rise to under 1,5 °C, as reported by the Paris Agreement.
Focus on Primary Plastic Polymers Towards Sustainable Plastic Production
Signatories of the Bridge to Busan Declaration advocate for control over of the production of primary plastic polymers as a critical and cost-effective strategy to limit plastic pollution. This Declaration emphasizes that this global effort must be equally shared among all countries, in order to ensure a worldwide comprehensive approach for managing plastic throughout its entire lifecycle.
The Declaration also outlines the goal of achieving a more sustainable production rate for primary plastic polymers. This involves aligning production levels with the principles of a circular economy for plastics and maintaining consistency within the Paris Agreement’s targets for global temperature control, as mentioned earlier.
Transparency and Global Production Objectives
Transparency is highlighted as a key element, with a call for comprehensive reporting on primary plastic polymer production. Accurate data collection is deemed essential for closing information gaps, assessing overall progress and adjusting priorities as needed to ensure the success of the initiative.
A significant part of the Declaration is also setting a global objective for primary plastic polymer production, covering this way the freezing of production at current levels, reductions based on agreed-upon baselines or other measures aimed at preventing unsustainable production practices.
A Global Alliance for Change
The Bridge to Busan Declaration is backed by a diverse coalition of countries and stakeholders within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). The initiative is in line with the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14, which seeks to impose global restrictions on pollution throughout the plastic lifecycle.
Additionally, with the European Union now on board, the Declaration has gained the support of 33 signatories, including Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, the Caribbean.
Conclusion
The European Union’s acceptance of the Bridge to Busan Declaration underscores the urgent need for collective action in addressing the escalating challenge of plastic pollution. By joining a large and diverse group of global stakeholders, the EU reinforces its commitment to a sustainable future where plastic production is regulated and plastic pollution is minimized. This unified effort sets the path for making progress in managing the full lifecycle of plastics, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
