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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Why the world is divided on plastic as UN treaty talks underway
Almost every week seems to bring a new report that plastic is even worse than had been thought for both human and planetary health. This week, it's a paper in the Lancet that warns of a 'grave, growing' danger from the rising tide of the material, and puts its health-related economic costs at more than $1.5 trillion a year. Yet, as diplomats gather for 10 days in Switzerland to negotiate an international treaty to tackle plastic pollution, the world seems further away from an agreement than it did when this process started three years ago. The gathering convened by the United Nations is the sixth round of talks, after a previous 'final' conference in Busan, South Korea, failed last winter. In the interim, there have been numerous negotiations to wrangle down the proposed text of the treaty. This cuts down on the work that delegates need to do in person. 'We are here to find a solution while not leaving anyone behind, and while ensuring that the economic wheels will keep turning,' Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said at the opening press conference on Tuesday. 'What is sure is that no one wants to live with the plastic pollution.' Few places on the planet are free from plastic pollution which is a fact of life today in Bali, Indonesia. Picture: Unsplash/Naja Bertolt Jensen /UN Nevertheless, there remains a fundamental rift between countries that want a broad treaty capping the amount of new plastic produced and certain toxic chemicals in them, and a smaller group that wants to limit the agreement to improving plastic waste collection and boosting recycling. This split has dominated previous rounds of talks. 'I do see that division persisting,' said Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste and business at the World Wildlife Fund — one of the many NGOs pushing for a stricter treaty. Differences will likely be even harder to overcome this time around because the world has seen leadership changes since Busan — most notably the re-election of US President Donald Trump, whose policies favor extracting more fossil fuels, the building blocks of plastic. The US 'supports an agreement that respects national sovereignty and focuses on reducing plastic pollution without imposing onerous restrictions on producers,' a State Department spokesperson said. The State Department leads the US delegation at the talks. Jessica Roff, plastics and petrochemicals campaign manager for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) US & Canada, described the US position as 'disappointing". 'The only way to effectively address the plastic crisis around the world is to have a legally binding treaty with production reduction at its core,' she said. Meanwhile, the volume of plastic in the world and the scientific record of its risks keep rising. 'Giant Plastic Tap' sculpture by Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong displayed outside the fourth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Ottawa, Canada, on April 23, 2024. Picture: Dave Chan / AFP Plastics production continues to grow explosively, according to a 2024 report from the the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It doubled between 2000 and 2019, from 234 to 460 million tons. Without more ambitious policies, the amount of plastics produced around the world is set to reach 736 million tons by 2040. Of the 16,000-plus chemicals in plastics, more than one-fourth are known to be hazardous to human health, while the majority have never been tested for toxicity, according to a recent paper in Nature. These chemicals appear to be found in every major plastic type, the study found. But already, some have been linked to reproductive conditions, lower IQ in children and cancer and stroke risk in adults, with the highest risks seen when exposure occurs in utero, in infancy or in early childhood. Scientists are in the early stages of understanding the health effects of microplastic and nanoplastic particles, which have been detected in human organs, blood and semen. A paper published just last week finds that adult humans inhale 68,000 lung-penetrating microplastic fragments a day — 100 times previous estimates. A penguin trapped in a discarded plastic net Another from last year found that patients with the particles in the walls of their blood vessels had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death roughly three years later. There's also evidence that plastics' impact on climate change is more powerful than previously thought. A 2024 paper by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that in 2019, primary plastics production generated 2.24 gigatons of CO2 equivalent, or 5.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions that year — significantly more than one previous estimate of 3.4%. A new initiative called the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics will monitor global efforts to reduce plastic exposure and mitigate its risks. It is a joint project of Boston College, Heidelberg University in Germany, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and Australia's Minderoo Foundation. 'Plastic has been kind of invisible, overshadowed by the climate crisis, by air pollution, by things like wildfires,' said Boston College Professor of Biology Philip Landrigan, lead author of the new Lancet literature review and a co-chair of the initiative. 'It's taken us a while to realise the threat plastic pollution poses.' — Bloomberg
Irish Independent
04-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Hilary Weston, businesswoman behind Penneys and Brown Thomas, dies aged 83
The Dublin-born woman, who was also the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, passed away in England, where she had been living in recent years. She was born in Dún Laoghaire in 1942 as the eldest of five children and married Irish-Canadian billionaire Galen Weston in 1966. She was prominent in the early days of Penneys and later ran Brown Thomas after her husband bought the retailer. Ms Weston was later a vice-chair of the Weston's Canadian luxury retail chain, Holt Renfrew. A statement by her family said: 'A beloved wife, proud mother, cherished sister, adoring grandmother and loyal friend, Hilary's life was shaped by her quiet strength, enduring generosity, and a deep commitment to helping others. "Over their loving 55-year marriage, Hilary and the late W. Galen Weston supported each other in family, business and community life, with a mutual devotion to public service. 'From her early days working as a fashion model to support her widowed mother and younger siblings, to her decades as a distinguished business leader, philanthropist and public servant, Hilary lived a life of deep and far-reaching impact.' Tánaiste and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, paid tribute to the late businesswoman, describing her as a 'very proud Irish-Canadian, who served both Ireland and Canada with distinction and generosity'. In a statement he said: 'I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston.' 'In addition to her successful businesses and public service in Canada, through her leadership of the Ireland Funds Canada, she made a lasting contribution to Irish-Canadian relations. 'I extend sincere condolences to her children, Alannah and Galen, and the entire Weston family,' Mr Harris added. In a joint statement, Brown Thomas said: 'Everyone at Brown Thomas Arnotts is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston - a truly remarkable person. Along with her husband Galen, her vision and enduring support for Irish culture and Irish enterprise laid the foundations for the success we enjoy today. 'On behalf of all of us at Brown Thomas Arnotts, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Weston family at this time. Her memory and impact will not be forgotten.' In early days of Penneys, Ms Weston designed dresses which she had made up by local makers to put in the window for sale for young women to buy for Saturday night dances. She worked with her friend, Cecily Macmenamin, to support Irish designers, including Sybil Connolly, Paul Costelloe, Philip Treacy and Louise Kennedy. She also brought International designers to Ireland, such as Armani, Louis Vuitton, Hermes. In recent years she initiated the Hilary and Galen Weston Scholars at Trinity Business School and the MA in Sustainable Business. She said when receiving her honorary degree at Trinity that she went out to work so the boys could go to university. She is survived by her two children, Allanah Weston and Galen Weston Jr, and predeceased by her husband, Galen Weston, who died in 2021 following a long illness. In a statement, Galen G. Weston said: 'As Ontario's 26th Lieutenant Governor, she shone a light on the contributions of volunteers, women, and youth. Her lifelong passion for the arts, education, health research, and volunteerism culminated in recent years with the creation of The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation. "Since 2021, the foundation has committed close to $150 million to innovative charities impacting healthcare, education, women, refugees and the environment in Canada, Ireland and the UK. 'Hilary's business acumen was equally remarkable, helping to shape the future of luxury retail as deputy chair of Holt Renfrew and a director of Brown Thomas & Co. and Selfridges Group; and with her husband Galen, co-creating Windsor, a celebrated residential community in Florida, reflecting their shared love of design, architecture, and nature. 'Our mother lived with unwavering devotion to her family and a belief in the power and importance of community and service. Brilliant, brave, companionate, and beautiful, she brought a touch of magic to everything she did - in her decades of public service, philanthropy and her remarkable business career. Her greatest joy was the life she created for her family and friends—filled with warmth, love, and fun.' Speaking after the death of Ms Weston, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: 'Hilary Weston played a pivotal role in the early development of two iconic brands, Penneys and Brown Thomas, and is regarded as a titan of the retail industry. She was instrumental in the formative years of Penneys, following the Weston family's acquisition of the struggling Todd Byrne's department store and the creation of the low cost fashion retailer. She took direct responsibility for overseeing the production of clothing for the company's original in house label, Primark, a name that would eventually become the brand's identity internationally beyond Ireland. 'But for many, she is best known for her significant contributions beyond her distinguished retail career. She was a committed and highly regarded philanthropist, overseeing the donation of hundreds of millions of euro over the years. This included the establishment of the Ireland Fund of Canada and her service as lieutenant governor of Ontario, during which she donated her salary to an initiative aimed at helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds find employment. 'Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this very sad time,' Mr McCoy said.
Irish Independent
03-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Businesswoman behind Penneys and Brown Thomas Hilary Weston dies aged 83
The Dublin-born woman, who was also the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, passed away in England, where she had been living in recent years. She was born in Dún Laoghaire in 1942 as the eldest of five children and married Irish-Canadian billionaire Galen Weston in 1966. She was prominent in the early days of Penneys and later ran Brown Thomas after her husband bought the retailer. Ms Weston was later a vice-chair of the Weston's Canadian luxury retail chain, Holt Renfrew. A statement by her family said: 'A beloved wife, proud mother, cherished sister, adoring grandmother and loyal friend, Hilary's life was shaped by her quiet strength, enduring generosity, and a deep commitment to helping others. "Over their loving 55-year marriage, Hilary and the late W. Galen Weston supported each other in family, business and community life, with a mutual devotion to public service. 'From her early days working as a fashion model to support her widowed mother and younger siblings, to her decades as a distinguished business leader, philanthropist and public servant, Hilary lived a life of deep and far-reaching impact.' Tánaiste and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, paid tribute to the late businesswoman, describing her as a 'very proud Irish-Canadian, who served both Ireland and Canada with distinction and generosity'. In a statement he said: 'I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston.' 'In addition to her successful businesses and public service in Canada, through her leadership of the Ireland Funds Canada, she made a lasting contribution to Irish-Canadian relations. 'I extend sincere condolences to her children, Alannah and Galen, and the entire Weston family,' Mr Harris added. In a joint statement, Brown Thomas said: 'Everyone at Brown Thomas Arnotts is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston - a truly remarkable person. Along with her husband Galen, her vision and enduring support for Irish culture and Irish enterprise laid the foundations for the success we enjoy today. 'On behalf of all of us at Brown Thomas Arnotts, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Weston family at this time. Her memory and impact will not be forgotten.' In early days of Penneys, Ms Weston designed dresses which she had made up by local makers to put in the window for sale for young women to buy for Saturday night dances. She worked with her friend, Cecily Macmenamin, to support Irish designers, including Sybil Connolly, Paul Costelloe, Philip Treacy and Louise Kennedy. She also brought International designers to Ireland, such as Armani, Louis Vuitton, Hermes. In recent years she initiated the Hilary and Galen Weston Scholars at Trinity Business School and the MA in Sustainable Business. She said when receiving her honorary degree at Trinity that she went out to work so the boys could go to university. She is survived by her two children, Allanah Weston and Galen Weston Jr, and predeceased by her husband, Galen Weston, who died in 2021 following a long illness. In a statement, Galen G. Weston said: 'As Ontario's 26th Lieutenant Governor, she shone a light on the contributions of volunteers, women, and youth. Her lifelong passion for the arts, education, health research, and volunteerism culminated in recent years with the creation of The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation. "Since 2021, the foundation has committed close to $150 million to innovative charities impacting healthcare, education, women, refugees and the environment in Canada, Ireland and the U.K. 'Hilary's business acumen was equally remarkable, helping to shape the future of luxury retail as deputy chair of Holt Renfrew and a director of Brown Thomas & Co. and Selfridges Group; and with her husband Galen, co-creating Windsor, a celebrated residential community in Florida, reflecting their shared love of design, architecture, and nature. 'Our mother lived with unwavering devotion to her family and a belief in the power and importance of community and service. Brilliant, brave, companionate, and beautiful, she brought a touch of magic to everything she did - in her decades of public service, philanthropy and her remarkable business career. Her greatest joy was the life she created for her family and friends—filled with warmth, love, and fun.'
