A plastic waste pile in Malaysi Source: Nandakumar S. Haridas, Greenpeace . The second Conference of the Global Treaty to Reduce Plastic Pollution by 80% by 2040 was held in Paris this week. Unfortunately, the conference was largely dominated by industry representatives, its parents i.e. members of the oil and Petro -chemical industries and their lobbyists, leaving little room for scientists, environmentalists and representatives of low -incomes countries which are most affected by the existing mountains of plastic. However, the report “Turning off the Tap” provides waypoints for achieving better outcomes in future. This involves a staggered phase -out of single use plastics and a shift to reuse, refilling and recycling and a switch to using more genuinely biodegradable or reusable material. Nor may waste be shipped to countries without capacity to manage it. You can read the highlights here or download the full report . Countries must take a united stand on this or they wi...
Practising Geographer - nature culture places people