SEDI urges a Collective Action for an Ambitious Global Plastic Treaty
The slow but steady rise in plastic pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems of our day. It crosses national borders and needs a worldwide solution. In response to this pressing necessity, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) commenced in March 2022 the formulation of an international legally binding treaty addressing plastic pollution, particularly in marine ecosystems, commonly referred to as the Global Plastic Treaty (GPT). This noteworthy treaty seeks to tackle every stage of the life cycle of plastics, from manufacturing to disposal, promoting a circular economy and preserving both the environment and the general public from its damaging effects. At the UNEA in March 2022, 175 countries passed UNEA-5.2, creating an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with drafting this treaty.
In contrast to voluntary agreements, this treaty seeks to establish universal norms and standards, offering a unified and responsible strategy for reducing plastic pollution. By promoting reuse, recycling, and the creation of safe and sustainable substitutes, it aims to advance a circular economy for plastics and depart from the existing linear "take-use-dispose" approach.
The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) is championing a national call for an ambitious and legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution. This crucial initiative aims to foster collective action to address the escalating crisis of plastic waste that threatens our planet's health, biodiversity, and human well-being. SEDI believes that only a unified, comprehensive global framework can effectively tackle the pervasive and transboundary nature of plastic pollution.
The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) is advocating for a comprehensive and legally binding international agreement in order to address plastic pollution. This is to encourage international cooperation in tackling the growing plastic waste catastrophe that endangers the health of our planet, biodiversity, and human welfare. SEDI believes that the only way to successfully address the widespread and interconnected features of plastic pollution is through a single, all-encompassing global framework.
Nigeria's Pivotal Role in the INC Negotiations
Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa and a major source of plastic garbage, is crucial to these discussions. We have been an active participant in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings, demonstrating our commitment to finding global solutions for environmental challenges. As stated by Dr. Thomas Aneni, the Executive director of SEDI, “Our country's experiences and viewpoints may help build a treaty that is fair, efficient, and highly beneficial for developing nations, ensuring that their specific issues are addressed.” Nigeria may motivate other African countries and make a significant contribution to a solid international accord by promoting tough provisions and exhibiting leadership. Its experiences, difficulties, and suggested solutions can provide priceless insights, guaranteeing that the treaty is genuinely inclusive and takes into account the particular problems encountered by developing countries. Nigeria's proactive participation and combative posture will be essential in promoting challenging goals and robust implementation mechanisms as negotiations move forward, as demonstrated by the next INC-5.2 session in Geneva.
The Devastating Impact of Plastic Pollution on Nigeria
Given the significant and varied effects of plastic pollution on Nigeria's environment, livelihoods, and health, the country's participation in the GPT is imperative. Nigeria produces an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, with less than 10% efficiently recycled. This enormous volume has disastrous repercussions:
Blocked Drains and Exacerbated Flooding: In urban cities like Benin, Edo State, where SEDI is located, plastic waste routinely clogs drainage systems, exacerbating the problem of flooding during rainy seasons. This has a direct impact on community displacement, property destruction, and the establishment of breeding sites for disease-carrying mosquitoes and other disease vectors. The economic cost of such regular flooding is enormous, further taxing already overburdened public services.
Microplastics in Water Systems: Microplastics originate when large plastic objects break down, and they have found their way into Nigeria's water supplies, including tap and bottled water, as well as food chains. With possible connections to a number of illnesses, including hormone imbalance and digestive disorders, the long-term health effects of consuming these microscopic particles are a cause for increasing concern.
Open Burning Health Risks: In many informal waste management procedures, plastic waste is openly burned. As a result, the atmosphere is exposed to extremely harmful gases such as furans, dioxins, and heavy metals. For local communities, especially children and the elderly, this air pollution causes serious respiratory ailments, skin disorders, an elevated risk of cancer, and other long-term health issues. “The impact of plastic pollution on Nigerians' health, particularly in vulnerable communities residing close to dumpsites, like Otofure, Benin city is significant and frequently disregarded,” says Ms. Adumaro Rachel, Program officer at SEDI. “A strong treaty must address these direct human impacts by promoting safer waste management practices.”
Addressing the Need for Financial Support, Capacity Building, and Protection
A truly comprehensive global plastics agreement must be fair and inclusive, taking into account the unique requirements of vulnerable groups and developing nations. This includes:
Financial Support: Developing countries, such as Nigeria, require substantial financial help to transition to sustainable plastic management systems, invest in modern recycling infrastructure, discover creative and safe alternatives to plastics, and deploy robust collecting systems. Perhaps by utilizing the "polluter pays" idea, the pact should provide a specific, easily available, and strong financial mechanism to support these important initiatives.
Capacity Building: Technology transfer, technical know-how, and capacity building are vital for improving garbage collection, sorting, recycling, and the creation of circular economy models. This entails developing research facilities, educating local workers, and encouraging creativity in plastic-free alternatives.
Protection for Informal Waste Pickers: In Nigeria, informal waste pickers are vital to waste management, but they are sometimes overlooked. They extract valuable items from waste streams. Nevertheless, they frequently labor in dangerous environments with little to no social protection, run the risk of illness, and have low incomes. The treaty must contain terms that acknowledge their contributions, guarantee their security and dignity, make it easier for them to integrate into official waste management systems, and safeguard their means of subsistence through social security and just remuneration. "These individuals are on the forefront of resource management," said Dr. Aneni, "and their welfare must be essential to any just reform."
How National Policies and Grassroots Initiatives Can Be Strengthened by the Treaty
Nigeria's current national policies and grassroots efforts can be greatly strengthened by a global plastic treaty, which will offer a strong international framework and promote a more efficient and well-coordinated approach:
Provide Legal Support and Harmonization: The agreement may provide legal incentive for tougher national controls on plastic manufacturing, consumption, and waste disposal, matching Nigeria's efforts with global best practices. It can also assist in harmonizing restrictions across countries, thus limiting illegal plastic garbage trade.
Encourage Innovation and Best Practices: By facilitating the exchange of successful global strategies, technology, and expertise, it can help Nigeria implement more ecologically friendly and efficient approaches to the creation of alternative materials and the management of plastic waste.
Strengthen Local Activities: Grassroots groups and community-led projects, which are frequently at the heart of addressing plastic pollution through clean-ups, education campaigns, and recycling activities, will have their work magnified and backed by a worldwide commitment. The framework can open up more resources and acknowledge their important contributions. "The treaty isn't merely the rule of law globally; it's about strengthening local heroes as well as making their contributions more impactful by offering the required structure and resources.
A Broad Appeal to All Stakeholders for Treaty Support
SEDI is appealing to all parties involved with its call for a comprehensive global plastic treaty. Every sphere of society must work together to address plastic pollution:
Government: To effectively engage in the implementation of the treaty, governments must demonstrate unwavering political commitment, establish robust national policies and enforcement mechanisms, set clear objectives, and allocate sufficient funding.
Private Sector: Organizations must invest in scalable recycling and reuse systems, embrace sustainable production methods, substantially cut back on plastic packaging, innovate, and be held responsible for the full lifespan of their goods. This involves a shift towards making things that are durable, reusable, and recyclable.
Civil Society: Non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, and community associations must keep up their essential advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, research, and on-the-ground projects, holding all parties responsible and guaranteeing that the terms of the treaty are fulfilled.
Individuals: Everyone plays an important part in decreasing plastic usage, adopting reuse and refill models, properly sorting garbage for recycling, supporting companies with green initiatives, and pushing for more resilient policies.
As reiterated by SEDI’s Executive Director, “This is a shared responsibility that transcends borders and sectors.” “To secure a robust and ambitious global plastic treaty, we must act collectively today to safeguard our economy, health, and environment for the future.” This generation and future generations cannot afford to be let down. SEDI maintains that a world that is free from plastic pollution is not simply an unattainable aspiration but a reality that can be achieved with a dedicated effort, sincere political resolve, and a shared objective.
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