Veering away from plastic

Each year the UN tackles more and more important and detrimental environmental issues, and the Maldives has, historically, been on the forefront of each endeavour. With a slight lull in the last decade, the most recent assembly revives the Maldivian citizen’s confidence in the administration to represent the nation with the same fervour on this stage once again. 

The United Nations Environment Assembly hosted by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) aims to bring together the 193 Member States in tackling the issues which pose a threat to the environment on a global scale. The recent 5th session held in Nairobi from 8 February to  2 March, targeting plastic pollution became a landmark event where Heads of States, Ministers of Environment and other representatives from 175 nations - including the Maldives, endorsed the formation of an international legally binding agreement. 

It addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, and the need for enhanced international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building and scientific and technical cooperation. It is an insurance policy which hopes to ensure that the current generation and those yet to come may be able to utilise plastics without it threatening the environment.

Currently the production of plastics has risen to about 400 million tons per year and 11 million tons of plastic waste flow in to the oceans annually - statistics that would double and triple respectively both by 2040 if no action is taken. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions  associated with plastic production, use, and disposal would account for 15 percent of allowed emissions, under the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree celsius. 

This is accounting for greenhouse gas emission only, out of the many other pollutants. More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by this pollution, and this is a cause for concern as our livelihood depends on the marine ecology more than we realise. This is a global crisis, a catastrophe in the making at a horrific pace. 

The extensive work on addressing this planetary crisis can be supported by a more firm and guaranteed policy with the implementation of a legally binding instrument. It presents 16 resolutions under the title of  “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an International Legally Binding Instrument,” all of which, if implemented and followed through accordingly, will benefit developing countries such as the Maldives - more so being an island heavily dependant on the environment.

The resolution was based on three initial such drafts from various nations. It establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which will begin its work in 2022 with the goal to complete the draft instrument by 2040. The advance draft of the resolution highlights the importance of bringing more awareness and reminders of previously presented declarations and resolutions which have been buried under the many projects of industrial development. It provides reaffirmation and encouragement for countries working on developing sustainable systems, and to further develop policies for funding and supporting the countries on their projects.

The first resolution is to convene the INC, so as to begin their work mid 2022 with the ambition to complete the establishment of an instrument to monitor and end plastic pollution. It also recognises that implementing such an instrument under legal binding will require capacity building as well as technical and financial assistance in the transition that would follow especially in developing countries. The resolutions focus on a united front, for the nations to cooperate internationally in the reduction of plastics, product design, environmentally sound waste management, including thorough resource efficiency and circular economy approaches.

It also provides room for the development of more scientific and socio-economic interventions, in not only developing sustainable methods but also in educating, encouraging, and maintaining the plans for ending plastic pollution.

The assembly urges nations worldwide to support the INC; 

-    to explore any and all options to implement more sustainable resources and materials to substitute for the plastic, 

-    To build a more efficient monitoring and reporting mechanism to support national action, 

-    To invest in these alternatives, and to provide incentives to all stakeholders. 

-    But most importantly, to ensure an agreement is placed with the party with the biggest influence on going forth with any policy; political support.

The INC’s mandate does not put a halt to any stakeholder - rather, the UNEP will work with any willing government and business across the value chain to shift away from single-use plastics. It hopes to remove barriers to investments in research and in a new circular economy with the assistance of private finances as well; all of which are included in the resolution itself.

A shift to a circular economy can reduce the immense volume of plastics entering the oceans by over 80 percent. Reducing the very production of these plastics by at least half of the current produce can save at least USD70 billion for governments. Not only saving in the expenses, but if the emission of greenhouse gases can be reduced by a quarter, it can provide hundreds of thousands of jobs - crucial for the Maldives as this is mostly applicable in the global south.

The Maldivian representatives had shared the Single-Use Plastic (ISUP) Phaseout project initiated in the Maldives, which was very well received by the audience. The ISUP Phaseout is a national initiative to phase-out the production, import, and consumption of certain single-use plastics in the Maldives, and promote the use of sustainable alternatives. Working under six different policies, the plan aims to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on our environment, health, and economy- all of which falls under the objectives of the INC.

This is certainly a step in the right direction in terms of actionable resolutions, and the Maldivian government is doing right by their people for taking this to the world stage. However, there is a certain degree of doubt in the proper execution of these resolutions, as it has been shown that such decisions only last as long as the term in which they were wrought.

However, the legally binding instrument may as well work to bind the future administrations of the Maldives responsible, and such work can only be for the betterment of this fragile archipelago. It is with great interest that the people of the Maldives observe their elected leaders in walking the talk.