Latest news with #U.N.EnvironmentProgramme
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
UN starts new bid to forge plastics treaty amid 'global crisis'
Nations must resolve the global plastics crisis, the head of U.N. talks told negotiators from 180 countries gathered in Geneva on Tuesday to forge a landmark treaty on eliminating the life-threatening waste. "We are facing a global crisis," Ecuadoran diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso said at the start of 10 days of negotiations. "Plastic pollution is damaging ecosystems, polluting our oceans and rivers, threatening biodiversity, harming human health, and unfairly impacting the most vulnerable," he said. "The urgency is real, the evidence is clear, and the responsibility is on us." Three years of negotiations hit the wall in Busan, South Korea in December when oil-producing states blocked a consensus. Key figures steering the negotiations at this new attempt said they were not expecting an easy ride this time, but insisted a deal remained within reach. "There's been extensive diplomacy from Busan till now," U.N. Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen told AFP. UNEP is hosting the talks, and Andersen said conversations between different regions and interest groups had generated momentum. "Most countries, actually, that I have spoken with have said: 'We're coming to Geneva to strike the deal'. "Will it be easy? No. Will it be straightforward? No. Is there a pathway for a deal? Absolutely." Human bodies riddled Plastic pollution is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body. In 2022, countries agreed they would find a way to address the crisis by the end of 2024. However, the supposedly final negotiations on a legally-binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the seas, flopped in Busan. One group of countries sought an ambitious deal to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals. But a clutch of mostly oil-producing nations rejected production limits and wanted to focus on treating waste. Valdivieso insisted that an effective, fair and ambitious agreement was within reach. "Our paths and positions might differ; our destination is the same," he said Monday. "We are all here because we believe in a shared cause: a world free of plastic pollution." 'Plastic-free future' More than 600 non-governmental organisations are in Geneva. NGOs and civil society have access to the discussions tackling the thorniest points, such as banning certain chemicals and capping production. "To solve the plastic pollution crisis, we have to stop making so much plastic," Greenpeace delegation chief Graham Forbes told AFP. The group and its allies want a treaty "that cuts plastic production, eliminates toxic chemicals, and provides the financing that's going to be required to transition to a fossil fuel, plastic-free future", he said. "The fossil fuel industry is here in force," he noted, adding: "We cannot let a few countries determine humanity's future when it comes to plastic pollution." Dumped, burned and trashed More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is for single-use items. While 15 percent of plastic waste is collected for recycling, only nine percent is actually recycled. Nearly half, 46 percent, ends up in landfills, while 17 percent is incinerated and 22 percent is mismanaged and becomes litter. A report in The Lancet medical journal warned Monday that plastic pollution was a "grave, growing and under-recognised danger" to health, costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year in health-related economic losses. The new review of existing evidence, conducted by leading health researchers and doctors, compared plastic to air pollution and lead, saying its impact on health could be mitigated by laws and policies. To hammer home the message, a replica outside the U.N. of Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture "The Thinker" will be slowly submerged in mounting plastic rubbish during the talks. The artwork, entitled "The Thinker's Burden", is being constructed by the Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong. "If you want to protect health, then we need to think about the toxic chemicals that are entering our environment," he told AFP. But Matthew Kastner, spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said the plastics industry and its products were "vital to public health", notably through medical devices, surgical masks, child safety seats, helmets and pipes delivering clean water.
CNBC
15-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Inside Europe's billion-dollar wooden city
A huge, new city is being built in Sweden, but it's not being constructed using steel or concrete — its main building material is wood. Part of the Swedish capital, Stockholm, is set to become the "world's largest wooden construction project," according to its developer Atrium Ljungberg, which will invest 12 billion Swedish krona (about $1.25 billion) into the project. Sickla — an industrial area to the south of Stockholm's center once known for manufacturing diesel engines — is being redeveloped using cross-laminated timber, with the material being used in its buildings' core, floors and walls. The new wooden homes, offices, schools and stores, will be interwoven with older structures, some of which have been converted into libraries or cinemas, and the area will extend to 250,000 square meters, or around 2.7 million square feet. Håkan Hyllengren, head of business development at Atrium Ljungberg, said Sickla aims to be a showcase for sustainable development. The construction sector produces 37% of the world's carbon emissions, making it "by far" the biggest culprit when it comes to greenhouse gases, according to the U.N. Environment Programme. "We are really in a sector where we can make a change, if we can build differently and we can run the buildings in more environmental way," Hyllengren told CNBC via video call. Doing so also contributes to Atrium Ljungberg's goal of cutting its construction emissions to almost zero by 2030, a "bold and tough" decision by the company, according to Hyllengren. Studies show that mass timber buildings produce much lower emissions than those made from steel or concrete: a 2024 study by academics from the USDA Forest Service suggested that timber buildings have global warming potential (a measure of emissions) that is at least 81% lower than concrete, while the figure for steel was 76% lower. Nearly 70% of Swedish territory is made up of forests, and the country has used timber in construction for many years. "We have a close cultural connection to the forest," said Oskar Norelius, lead architect at White Arkitekter, which is working with Atrium Ljungberg on the project. "A lot of Swedes spend time in the forest to unwind and do different activities. But it's also a very big part of the economy, not just for construction, but also for energy, for pulp, for bio-based products," Norelius told CNBC by video call. But Hyllengren said wooden buildings are "usually a single house here and there," so creating an entire city from timber is new. Norelius designed Sara Kulturhus, a 20-story building in the north of Sweden made from timber that comprises museum and gallery spaces, an event hall, a library and a 200-room Wood Hotel. The project helped people in the industry see the potential for constructing larger structures in wood, which can be perceived as being difficult because of the rules around fire risk. "We've shifted the mindset in seeing that timber is a driver for architecture rather than a restraint," Norelius said. The first part of the development, a residential area of 80 apartments named Kvarter 7, will be completed by the end of 2025, while White Arkitekter is working on designs for Sickla's first office block. The project also has planning permission for dual-use buildings, meaning that homes could become offices in future, giving the buildings a "second life," Norelius said. Around 2,000 more apartments are planned for 2027. Beyond the sustainability of building in timber, people seem to love wood. Visitors to Sara Kulturhus have been seen hugging its wooden columns, something that has the potential to happen in Sickla, Norelius said. The structure of the buildings will be visible, including pipes and ventilation equipment, which means there may be more wooden columns that people could "lean on, or touch," he said. Like other European countries, Sweden suffered a real estate crash as interest rates rose in 2023, and Hyllengren said there is a "feeling it's starting to change." Given Sickla's transport links — trains and trams run to central Stockholm and the city's subway will be extended to the development — Hyllengren said he is optimistic about the future. While a floor slab of concrete is about 20% cheaper than one made from timber, Hyllengren said building from wood is much faster than using traditional methods, meaning apartments and offices are ready to rent earlier. And the pleasing aesthetics of wood might also lead to financial benefits for the developer. "We believe what we create is something that will be attractive — and we'll get higher rental income for it," Hyllengren said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola slammed over latest packaging change amid global backlash: 'Affecting millions of people's livelihoods'
Coca-Cola is facing backlash after a U.N. report slammed the decision to switch from reusable glass bottles to single-use plastic in Samoa. The move has led many to criticize Coca-Cola's claims of environmental stewardship. The U.N. Special Rapporteur for Toxics and Human Rights released a report highlighting how, in 2021, the regional Coca-Cola bottler in Samoa switched from a system of reusable glass bottles to plastic packaging. "[A] pivotal decision was made to abandon the long-standing, effective system of reusable glass bottles in Samoa," Dr. Rufino Varea of the Pacific Island Climate Action Network told Packaging Insights. "For decades, the communities in Samoa participated in a circular system, returning glass bottles for a deposit, which ensured high reuse rates and minimized waste." The criticism has brought renewed attention to Coca-Cola's status as one of the world's largest plastic polluters, if not number one. The presence of single-use plastic and other waste is particularly problematic in Samoa, which lacks the capacity for large-scale recycling programs. "Samoa's small size and population (225,681 in 2023) makes economies of scale for disposal or recycling of certain waste streams non-existent," the U.N. report said. "Samoa, and most Pacific Island states, are grappling with a monumental waste crisis, a significant portion of which is plastic," Varea noted. Plastics have permeated every corner of the globe, from the Arctic, to the top of Mount Everest, to the bottom of the sea, and even our own bodies. "Every year 19-23 million tonnes [20.9 to 25.3 million tons] of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas," the U.N. Environment Programme noted. "Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being." We are still learning the tremendous number of ways in which plastic pollution impacts our environment, our community, and our health. For example, according to The Washington Post, recent studies have found that the presence of microplastics can interfere with bees and the pollination process. When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Such impacts could have dramatic consequences for the global food supply, which depends heavily on pollination and pollinators. Efforts are underway to significantly curtail the amount of plastic we produce and discard. The U.N. Environment Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the world to work toward a binding international agreement to limit plastic pollution. Some private companies have also been seeking innovative ways to do their part in cutting back on plastic use. Even Coca-Cola, often maligned as the world's biggest producer of plastic waste, developed a 100% plant-based, recyclable PET bottle. While the problem of plastic waste might seem insurmountable, we can all do things to make a difference. For instance, you can choose products that come in non-plastic packaging like glass or cardboard. Better yet, you can forgo unnecessary single-use packaging by carrying a reusable water bottle. Though one small decision might seem inconsequential, multiply that decision by thousands or even millions of people, and we can make a real difference. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make game-changing breakthrough in fight against hidden health risk lurking in air and water: 'Highly accurate and affordable'
A team of researchers at McGill University has developed an innovative and affordable way to detect microplastics and nanoplastics in air and water. The technique, called HoLDI-MS (short for hollow-laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), was recently profiled in a study published in the Nature journal Communications Chemistry. It allows scientists to detect even the tiniest plastic particles without needing a bunch of complicated lab prep. It's designed to work on samples taken from both indoor and outdoor environments, including water, soil, and air. "With HoLDI, we provide a method that is effective, quantitative, highly accurate, and affordable, making it accessible to researchers worldwide," chemistry professor and lead author Parisa Ariya said. "It requires little energy, is recyclable and costs only a few dollars per sample." Plastic pollution, especially once it breaks down into microplastics, is notoriously hard to detect, but it's everywhere. These tiny particles can be inhaled or ingested by people, and research has linked them to a range of long-term health concerns, including higher risks for cancer, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular diseases. Microplastics in the environment also pose threats across entire ecosystems, harming soil health, water quality, food webs, and wildlife. "Until now, there have been no established universal protocols for nanoplastic detection within the complex environment," Ariya said. The new platform changes that, allowing scientists around the world to analyze samples with consistent, comparable results. As part of the study, researchers identified particles including polyethylene and polydimethylsiloxanes in indoor air and outdoor contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The U.N. Environment Programme has been calling for better monitoring tools to help address the global plastic crisis, and this innovation is a major step forward. The discovery follows other promising breakthroughs in the fight against plastic, including the University of British Columbia's portable detection tool and remote technology for detecting plastic in waterways. You can join the fight against plastic pollution by using less plastic, educating yourself on how to recycle, and supporting brands with plastic-free packaging. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola launches global initiative to reshape supply systems: 'Catalyze long-term change'
The Coca-Cola Foundation has teamed up with the United Nations Development Programme in an effort to combat plastic waste in Sri Lanka. According to Economy Next, the UNDP is giving Sri Lanka $1.1 million to develop a system for managing the country's plastic waste. The agency's Sri Lanka office will oversee the execution of the project. "Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, and addressing it requires collaborative, scalable action," UNDP Sri Lanka deputy resident representative Malin Herwig told EN. "This project will not only help reduce plastic leakage into ecosystems but also catalyze long-term change in how plastic is managed and valued in Sri Lanka," Herwig continued. Plastic pollution is a global crisis, with a staggering 460 million metric tons of plastic waste produced each year across the globe, per the U.N. Environment Programme. Since plastic is not biodegradable, it leaches toxic chemicals into the environment that threaten the health of ecosystems. As a result, plastic waste management is essential for ensuring a safe future. Across the globe, countries are developing innovative ways to reduce plastic waste and mitigate its environmental footprint. Though this project is a step in the right direction, Coca-Cola still generates a significant amount of plastic waste. Despite its plastic waste reduction campaigns, the company is one of the world's biggest plastic polluters and has been accused of greenwashing. However, the new partnership and project with the UNDP demonstrate Coca-Cola's efforts to combat plastic waste on a global scale. Eight other countries in the region are part of the $15 million initiative: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, and Vietnam. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The project is expected to contribute to collecting at least 55,610 tons of plastics and support 72,100 direct beneficiaries during the implementation period across all nine participating countries," EN stated. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
