As global diplomats reconvene in Switzerland for a fresh round of UN-led negotiations on tackling plastic pollution, deep divisions between countries are threatening to stall progress on what many scientists now view as one of the most urgent environmental and public health crises of our time.
This marks the sixth round of talks aimed at shaping a legally binding international treaty on plastics. But hopes for a breakthrough appear dimmer than when negotiations began three years ago.
Mounting Scientific Warnings, But No Global Consensus
The urgency surrounding plastic pollution has only intensified. A new report in The Lancet warns of a “grave, growing” danger, estimating the health-related economic burden of plastics at over $1.5 trillion annually. Yet, despite mounting evidence of plastic’s harmful impact on human health and the environment, the world remains sharply divided on how to respond.
On one side are countries and advocacy groups pushing for strict global limits on plastic production and the use of hazardous chemicals. On the other are nations, including the United States, that favor a less restrictive agreement focused primarily on improving recycling systems and waste management.
The U.S. Stance: Sovereignty Over Restrictions
The United States, now under the second term of President Donald Trump, has made its position clear: no sweeping mandates on plastic production. A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. supports a treaty that “respects national sovereignty” and emphasizes reducing plastic pollution “without imposing onerous restrictions on producers.”
Environmental advocates, however, argue that such an approach falls short. “The only way to effectively address the plastic crisis around the world is to have a legally binding treaty with production reduction at its core,” said Jessica Roff of GAIA US & Canada.
Plastic Production Still Soaring
Plastic output is continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Between 2000 and 2019, production nearly doubled from 234 million tons to 460 million tons, according to the OECD. If current trends continue unchecked, global production could hit 736 million tons by 2040.
A significant concern is the more than 16,000 chemicals found in plastics—over 25% of which are known to be harmful to human health. Most remain untested for toxicity, yet they are present across nearly all types of plastic materials.
Emerging Health and Climate Risks
Recent studies are beginning to uncover the far-reaching health implications of plastic exposure. Research shows links to reproductive issues, cognitive delays in children, and increased risks of cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease—especially when exposure occurs in early life stages.
Microplastics and nanoplastics—tiny fragments that can penetrate human organs and bloodstream—are now being detected in lungs, blood, and even semen. One recent study found that adults inhale an estimated 68,000 lung-penetrating microplastic fragments each day—far exceeding past estimates.
The climate cost is also significant. A 2024 study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that primary plastics production accounted for 5.3% of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019—considerably higher than previously believed.
A New Global Watchdog on Plastic and Health
In response to growing concern, a new initiative—the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics—has been launched to track global efforts to reduce plastic exposure. Led by researchers from Boston College, Heidelberg University, and other institutions, the initiative aims to raise awareness and push for stronger global action.
“Plastic has been kind of invisible, overshadowed by the climate crisis, by air pollution, by things like wildfires,” said Philip Landrigan, a Boston College biologist and lead author of the Lancet review. “It’s taken us a while to realize the threat plastic pollution poses.”
A Treaty Still Out of Reach?
Despite growing scientific consensus, the road to a binding global treaty remains uncertain. The failure of the last round of talks in Busan, South Korea, underscores just how difficult consensus will be. As the talks resume in Switzerland, delegates face the challenge of bridging fundamental disagreements over how far the world is willing to go to curb the plastic crisis.
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