India tops plastic pollution rankings, emitting a fifth of global plastic waste

India has secured the top spot as biggest plastic polluter in the world, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) annually, according to a new study. This amounts to roughly one-fifth of global plastic emissions.

This could be because official statistics do not include rural areas, the open burning of uncollected waste, or waste recycled by the informal sector, the paper said.

Taking the second and third spots were Nigeria, with 3.5 Mt of emissions and Indonesia, with 3.4 Mt.

• India has now become the most populous country. We account for open, uncontrolled burning as a core form of plastic pollution and some previous efforts did not take this into account or have underestimated it. India faces a major challenge concerning this unsustainable, hugely damaging practice
• The study defined plastic emissions as materials that have moved from the managed or mismanaged system (controlled or contained state) to the unmanaged system (uncontrolled or uncontained state — the environment).
• Previous efforts identified China as the highest polluter globally. The new study, which uses recent data, placed China in the fourth spot, reflecting the country’s progress in adopting waste incineration and controlled landfills, the researchers wrote.
• The expert also noted that previous studies used older data for major polluters like China, which could explain why their emissions were overestimated. The new study, he added, uses correction algorithms to account for unreported waste generated.
• The study quantified emissions for 50,702 municipality-level administrations from five sources. These include uncollected waste, littering, collection systems, uncontrolled disposal and rejects from sorting and reprocessing.
• Their analysis showed that global plastic waste emissions were at 52.1 Mt per year in 2020. While littering was the largest emission source in the Global North, uncollected waste was the dominant source across the Global South.
• Globally, roughly 69 per cent or 35.7 Mt per year of the world’s plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries, of which four are low-income countries, nine are lower-middle-income countries and seven are upper-middle-income.

Furthermore, high-income countries have higher plastic waste generation rates, but none are ranked in the top 90 polluters, as most have 100 per cent collection coverage and controlled disposal, the study highlighted.

However, the researchers acknowledged they may have underestimated plastic waste emissions from some high-income countries, as they deliberately excluded plastic waste exports from their analysis.

These findings could inform the Global Plastics Treaty. In 2022, 175 nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, use and disposal.

About Global Plastics Treaty:

The Global Plastics Treaty is an emerging international initiative aimed at addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. It is being negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), following a historic resolution adopted at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in March 2022. This treaty is expected to establish legally binding commitments to tackle plastic pollution, from production to disposal.

Key Features of the Global Plastics Treaty:

1. Legally Binding Nature:
   • The treaty is envisioned as a legally binding agreement to ensure that countries and stakeholders take concrete steps to reduce plastic pollution globally.
2. Full Lifecycle Approach:
   • The treaty will focus on the entire lifecycle of plastics, from their design and production to their consumption and disposal. This comprehensive approach seeks to address plastic pollution at every stage rather than just at the waste management level.
   • Key elements will include measures to reduce plastic production, promote recycling, and design products for circularity (recyclability and reusability).
3. Focus on Environmental and Health Impacts:
   • The treaty aims to address not only the environmental damage caused by plastic pollution (like marine pollution and ecosystem harm) but also the health impacts of plastic pollution, including microplastics found in the air, food, and water.
4. Commitment to Reduce Plastic Waste:
   • The treaty will likely require countries to implement national action plans to reduce plastic waste. This could involve setting targets for reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management systems, promoting recycling, and eliminating harmful plastic products.
5. Support for Developing Countries:
   • The treaty will focus on ensuring that developing countries, which are often disproportionately affected by plastic pollution, receive financial and technical support to implement effective solutions.
6. Involvement of Private Sector and Civil Society:
   • Businesses, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders will play an essential role in the treaty’s success. Collaboration with the private sector, especially industries that produce and use plastics, will be critical to transforming the plastic economy.
7. Innovation and Technology:
   • The treaty may encourage the development of innovative technologies and approaches for reducing plastic use, creating alternatives to plastics, and improving recycling efficiency.

Timeline and Negotiation Process:

1. UNEA-5 Resolution (March 2022):
   • The negotiation process for the Global Plastics Treaty was formally launched when UNEA-5 adopted a resolution to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). This committee is tasked with developing the treaty’s text by 2024.
2. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC):
   • The INC will draft the treaty in a series of meetings and consultations over the next few years. Countries, stakeholders, and international organizations will be involved in these discussions.
3. Expected Adoption:
   • The final treaty is expected to be ready for adoption by 2024, with the aim of bringing it into force by the end of 2025, following ratification by a critical mass of countries.

Challenges and Concerns:

1. Global Consensus:
   • Building consensus among nations with diverse levels of plastic production and waste management infrastructure is a significant challenge.
   • Some countries, especially those heavily dependent on plastic industries, may resist stringent regulations, while others may push for more aggressive measures.
2. Enforcement:
   • Ensuring compliance with the treaty’s terms could be challenging, particularly for countries with weak governance or limited capacity to manage plastic waste.
3. Funding and Technology Transfer:
   • There will be a need for funding mechanisms to support developing countries in meeting their treaty obligations and for transferring technologies to improve plastic management.

Importance and Global Impact:

• Environmental Protection: The treaty will play a critical role in reducing plastic pollution in oceans, rivers, and ecosystems, protecting marine and terrestrial wildlife.
• Human Health: By addressing microplastics and other toxic pollutants, the treaty could improve public health outcomes globally.
• Circular Economy: The treaty’s focus on the entire lifecycle of plastics encourages a transition toward a circular economy, where plastic use is reduced, and products are designed to be reused and recycled efficiently.

The Global Plastics Treaty represents a landmark step in international environmental governance, aiming to combat one of the most pressing global environmental challenges: plastic pollution. It is hoped that through collective action, this treaty can significantly reduce the impact of plastic waste on the planet.