New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) — In a significant call to action, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief Inger Andersen has urged India to take a leading role in shaping a robust global plastics treaty. She highlighted the need for a treaty that strikes a balance between ambition and inclusiveness. Andersen, speaking on World Environment Day, expressed that the 2025 theme centred on plastic pollution mirrors a global momentum towards addressing the issue. As a major player in both plastic production and pollution, Andersen stressed that India must lead by example in these efforts.
Andersen, also serving as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, affirmed the presence of political will among member states. “I have yet to meet a world leader who doesn’t want to solve this issue, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she remarked. Emphasizing the importance of Indian leadership, she acknowledged India’s developing status, calling for a treaty broad enough to resonate globally while also focusing on ambitious solutions.
The negotiations for a global plastics treaty began in 2022, with growing consensus on urgency. However, disagreements during the Busan round in December 2024 hampered progress. Andersen expressed optimism, noting public demand for action and potential opportunities for businesses. As for the second part of the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee, she remains hopeful about crafting an internationally binding instrument for addressing plastic pollution.
Andersen emphasized the need to assign value to discarded plastics, especially in India where one-fifth of global plastic pollution is linked. “Globally, discarded plastics hold value when recycled. However, due to a lack of demand, many plastics lack perceived worth. India, with its extensive collection networks for metals, glass, and textiles, can extend this to plastics,” she suggested. The upcoming negotiation round will follow regional consultations in Bangkok and discussions at the Oceans Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The draft treaty outlines measures to phase out single-use plastics by 2040, encompassing items like toys and packaging.
Regarding stronger enforcement mechanisms, Andersen pointed to effective models like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Montreal Protocol. “Enforcement occurs at the national level, with broad treaties integrated into national legislation,” she explained. While plastic pollution is a central focus this year, other critical UNEP agendas include climate change, desertification, and biodiversity loss.
Andersen underscored the significant emissions gap within the buildings sector, advocating for smarter construction and cooling solutions. “We need alternatives to inefficient, standalone air conditioning units. A better-built environment should integrate cooling within construction itself,” she noted. Bridging this emissions gap demands widespread adoption of low-carbon technologies, enhanced energy efficiency, and stringent policy enforcement for both new and existing buildings.
UNEP’s Global Cooling Pledge, launched at COP28, highlights passive cooling as a pivotal climate strategy. Andersen stated that “ambient cooling can reduce urban temperatures by up to 7 degrees,” marking it as a key agenda for COP30. In India’s burgeoning construction sector, she lauded initiatives like green bonds and encouraged more public-private investment models, particularly supporting self-built housing through microfinance.
Highlighting household air pollution concerns in India, Andersen pointed out the prevalent use of inefficient mud stoves, kerosene, and coal. “There is a significant rate of child deaths, some linked to air,” she lamented. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored that air pollution is not inevitable, a realization Andersen believes India can leverage to improve its air quality index (AQI).
Linking environment to health, Andersen emphasized UNEP’s collaboration with the World Health Organization. “More than 90% of the global population breathes air quality below WHO standards,” she said, advocating for a closer integration of health and environmental policies.
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