(4 minutes read)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP) set out a new document “Turning off the tap: how the world can stop plastic pollution and create a circular economy”, which projects an 80% reduction in plastic pollution by 2040. UNDP stated that reducing plastic pollution will require significant policy changes and market adjustments at six levels, including structural.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP) set out a new document “Turning off the tap: how the world can stop plastic pollution and create a circular economy”, which projects an 80% reduction in plastic pollution by 2040. UNDP stated that reducing plastic pollution will require significant policy changes and market adjustments at six levels, including structural.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), approximately 353 million tonnes of plastic waste were produced worldwide in 2019. Only 9% of this waste was recycled that year, while 22% was mismanaged or released into the environment. By 2023, the situation has deteriorated, especially impacting the ocean’s biodiversity. Africa is particularly concerned by this phenomenon.
Faced with a range of initiatives that have so far failed to eradicate plastic pollution, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is suggesting a completely different approach through this initiative, if governments and businesses follow this roadmap, plastic pollution could be reduced by 80% by 2040.
The UNDP’s approach is sixfold. First, the UN agency proposes to change the system by accelerating reuse, recycling, reorientation, and diversification (RRR+D), and addressing the legacy of plastic pollution. For example, 100 million tonnes of plastic from single-use and short-lived products will still need to be safely processed each year by 2040, says UNDP. A circular market: RRR + D will also need to be created. For example, promoting reuse options, including reusable bottles, bulk dispensers, and deposit and return systems for packaging could reduce plastic pollution by 30% by 2040. To realise this potential, governments will need to help strengthen the business case for reusable products.
It will also be possible to reduce plastic pollution by a further 20% by 2040 if recycling becomes a more stable and profitable business. Removing fossil fuel subsidies, implementing design guidelines to improve recyclability and other measures would increase the share of economically recyclable plastics from 21% to 50%. On another level, the judicious replacement of products such as plastic packaging, bags and takeaways with products made from alternative materials (such as paper or compostable materials) could lead to a further 17% reduction in plastic pollution.
In the third axis of its new strategy, UNDP suggests defining and implementing design and safety standards for the disposal of non-recyclable plastic waste and making manufacturers responsible for products containing microplastics. The shift to a circular economy would result in $1.27 trillion in savings from the costs and revenues of recycling. In addition, avoiding externalities (health, climate, air pollution, marine ecosystem degradation and litigation costs) would save $3.25 trillion.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/undp-and-isa-to-promote-solar-irrigation-in-nine-african-countries/
https://trendsnafrica.com/safe-disposal-of-chemical-waste-in-seychelles-a-undp-project/
https://trendsnafrica.com/undp-warns-of-furthering-indebtedness-of-african-countries/
The change in plastic waste management policy will automatically create 700,000 new jobs in low-income countries by 2040.The investment costs for the recommended systemic change are significant, but lower than the costs of not undertaking the systematic change: $65 billion per year versus $113 billion per year, the UNDP roadmap says. But these adjustments will need to be made quickly to avoid a delay that could do more harm. UNDP points out that a five-year delay could lead to an increase of 80 million metric tons of plastic pollution by 2040.
