Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
“Just one word … Plastics. There's a great future in plastics.” That seminal line from The Graduate doesn’t ring quite as true as it did in 1967 when the film was released.
If trends continue, plastic production could triple by 2060 – a boon for petrochemical producers. But the consequences for oceans, food supply and our bodies would be ruinous.
This week delegates from 175 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, for the final round of negotiations on a UN-led treaty that would regulate plastic use globally, from production to disposal. They’re split.
Many African, Asian, and European nations are pushing for strong production caps, bans on toxic chemicals and the end of single-use. Producer states including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States favour recycling and waste management.
Meanwhile, industry lobby groups have been paying TikTok influencers to push back the “tide of anti-plastic sentiment” ahead of the talks.
