The Plastic Plague: Why the World Must Act Now

RITURAJ PHUKAN

A Global Crisis Grows

Every year, the world generates an astonishing 400 million tonnes of plastic waste—equal in weight to 40,000 Eiffel Towers.

This flood of waste includes everything from shampoo bottles and food packaging to polyester shirts and PVC piping.

Though plastics play a central role in modern life, the scale of the pollution they produce has reached catastrophic levels.

Plastic waste is now found everywhere: on city streets, in rivers and oceans, in remote deserts, Arctic ice, and even in the deepest parts of the ocean. Microplastics—tiny plastic fragments—have been discovered in human organs, breast milk, and bottled water, raising serious concerns about health impacts.

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Only 9% Gets Recycled

Since the 1950s, humanity has produced over 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic, and more than 7 billion tonnes have become waste. Yet only around 9% of plastic waste is recycled. The rest is either burned, dumped in landfills, or ends up polluting natural ecosystems.

The issue is especially dire with single-use plastics—items like water bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers, and cutlery—that are often used just once but persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Many of these items are not recyclable due to design limitations or lack of recycling infrastructure.

Plastic’s Hidden Impact on Climate and Health

Plastic pollution isn’t just an eyesore or a wildlife hazard. It also contributes significantly to climate change. Plastic production is energy-intensive and responsible for over 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, plastic breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics that can enter the human body through air, water, and food. Although the long-term health effects are still being studied, the fact that these particles have been found in human blood and organs is alarming.

A Turning Point: Toward a Global Plastics Treaty

In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, countries adopted a historic resolution to create an international, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution. This includes addressing marine litter and microplastics.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established to draft the treaty. The second part of its fifth session will take place from 5 to 14 August 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. These negotiations are a rare and crucial opportunity to shape a global framework that targets plastic pollution at its source.

A Lifecycle Approach Is Key

Experts agree that the solution lies in a lifecycle approach—one that tackles every stage of a product’s existence, from production and design to usage and disposal. This includes:

Reducing reliance on single-use plastics
Redesigning products to be durable, safe, and recyclable
Encouraging reuse systems
Finding alternatives to conventional plastics
Improving waste management to prevent leakage into the environment

Implementing such a system is not just environmentally essential—it’s economically smart. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates this approach could save the world US$4.5 trillion in social and environmental costs by 2040.

The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Plastic Solutions

While negotiations are underway, not all voices are being heard equally. The International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics (IIPFP) recently expressed serious concerns over the lack of transparency and limited participation of Indigenous communities in the INC process.

The IIPFP has called on the INC Bureau to:

Provide a dedicated meeting room for Indigenous participants during negotiations
Ensure ongoing representation in implementation meetings
Secure funding to support Indigenous representation from all seven socio-cultural regions recognized by the UN

Indigenous communities often live in and protect the world’s most ecologically sensitive areas. Their traditional knowledge and lived experience make their inclusion in the treaty process not just fair, but essential.

What’s Being Done Nationally and Locally

Countries are already taking action at the national level. Many have introduced bans or restrictions on single-use plastics. Others are implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which hold manufacturers accountable for the entire life of their plastic products.

Meanwhile, companies and grassroots organizations are pioneering circular economy models, investing in biodegradable alternatives, and encouraging consumer behaviour change through education and incentives.

Why the Time to Act Is Now

If no action is taken, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warns that plastic waste could nearly triple to 1 billion tonnes a year by 2060. Nearly half of this waste will be landfilled, incinerated, or lost to the environment—further worsening the crisis.

Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue; it’s a human, social, and economic issue. The longer we wait, the more difficult and costly it becomes to reverse the damage.

World Environment Day 2025

Since 2018, the UNEP-led #BeatPlasticPollution campaign has advocated for a just, collective, and global transition to a world free of plastic pollution.This year, World Environment Day joins the UNEP-led #BeatPlasticPollution campaign to end plastic pollution.

Investing in a Cleaner, Safer Future

As Elisa Tonda of UNEP aptly puts it, “We need to stop thinking about solutions to plastic pollution as an expense. They’re investments in healthy societies and a healthy planet—things that would pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Global Plastics Treaty, if designed inclusively and ambitiously, could mark a turning point in the fight against plastic pollution. But it requires political will, cross-border collaboration, and a commitment to equity and science-based solutions.

Take Action: What You Can Do

Reduce your use of single-use plastics
Support businesses using sustainable packaging
Educate others on the impact of plastic waste
Advocate for strong national policies and global agreements

Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution before it’s too late.

Rituraj Phukan: Founder, Indigenous People’s Climate Justice Forum; Co-Founder, Smily Academy ;National Coordinator for Biodiversity, The Climate Reality Project India; Member, IUCN Wilderness Specialist Group; Commission Member – IUCN WCPA Climate Change, IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation, IUCN WCPA Indigenous People and Protected Areas Specialist Groups, IUCN WCPA South Asia Region and IUCN WCPA-SSC Invasive Alien Species Task Force; Member, International Antarctic Expedition 2013; Climate Force Arctic 2019 ; Ambassador, Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. Rituraj Phukan is the Climate Editor, Mahabahu.

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