CLIMATE campaigners are calling on the Scottish Government to take more decisive action on plastic pollution following the failure of a treaty agreement.
It follows last week's meeting in Busan, South Korea, where 175 governments gathered to discuss the details of the UN's Global Plastics Treaty aimed at ending the plastic pollution crisis.
The meeting ended without any agreement on key issues such as limiting plastic pollution, removing the use of harmful chemicals, and setting up financial help for poorer nations to adapt to the measures discussed.
The fossil fuel and plastic industries, and certain countries that produce large amounts of plastic, were criticised for obstructing, delaying, and undermining efforts to make progress.
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner from Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “A handful of countries and corporations have sabotaged the negotiations for a global plastics treaty, putting their profits before a world without plastic pollution.
“This international agreement had the potential to make a hugely positive impact, but we can’t let its delay stop progress that can be made now to reduce the harmful impacts of plastic.
“Scotland has rightly joined with the many countries, civil society organisations and communities calling for action on the plastics crisis."
Scotland is one of the 85 countries supporting the idea of a strong treaty to better deal with plastic pollution.
On October 29, 2024, an open letter by Friends of the Earth Scotland and other organisations was sent to First Minister John Swinney and Gillian Martin MSP, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy.
The letter was signed by 29 climate organisations.
The open letter stated that the quantity of microplastics found in brain samples has almost doubled since 2016 and “millions of tonnes of plastics are exported from rich countries” to southern countries with 60% of all recycled plastics managed by waste pickers.
Waste pickers are unacknowledged workers who collect plastic waste for resale, often under poor working conditions. It is estimated that around 20 million people rely on this work to earn a living.
Swinney answered the open letter on November 5 and stated that the “Scottish Government fully supports the Global Plastics Treaty” and is closely working with the UK Government on the matter.
“It is my expectation that the finalisation of a Treaty will improve plastics management internationally," he said.
The First Minister then resumed the current measures taken in Scotland to tackle the plastic problem.
“Our relationship with plastics must change to prevent further pollution,” Swinney stated at the end of his letter.
“With the failure of the talks, it is now more important than ever that the Scottish Government demonstrates its commitment to ending plastic pollution by embracing and implementing ambitious policies to curb the scourge of plastic pollution in Scotland,” Pratt said.
After the meeting in South Korea ended without an agreement, the negotiations are scheduled to resume in 2025.
