By Editorial
THE world has embarked on a serious attempt to tackle the escalating plastic pollution crisis with talks organised by UNEP being held in Geneva. The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which runs from Aug 5 to 14, is intended to deliver the text of a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. If nations reach an agreement, it would address plastics across their entire lifecycle, from production to disposal. The aim is to put a stop to the millions of tonnes of plastic that leak into the environment each year, poisoning ecosystems, wildlife and human health. The stakes are huge. Scientists warn that without decisive intervention, plastic leakage into aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple by 2040. The economic and health costs 鈥 already estimated at over $1.5tr annually 鈥 will only mount. As dubbed by many, the Geneva talks are the world鈥檚 鈥渓ast good chance鈥 to forge a treaty to meaningfully reverse these trends.
Yet, with talks due to end on Thursday, n