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Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Plastics treaty talks in deadlock as negotiations enter second week, India opposes product phase-out
Deadlocks and divisions over scope and ambition of the draft text of first-ever Plastics Treaty marred negotiations, as they moved into the second and final week. India on Saturday aligned itself with oil producing nations such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and opposed separate provisions on supply or measures to regulate primary polymers. Further, it also opposed inclusion of any phase-out lists for plastic products. Around 190 countries have assembled in Geneva for what is seen as a make-or-break round of negotiations to achieve a global treaty to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Speaking for India, Vir Vikram Yadav, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board said to the chair of the negotiations that the treaty's focus should be on addressing plastic pollution only, and it should not overlap with existing multilateral environmental agreements and mandate bodies like WTO and WHO. 'Separate article on supply or any measure to regulate the production of primary plastic polymers has larger implications in respect of the right to development of member states. Such approaches should be avoided. Similarly, inclusion of any global list with phase out dates under the Article on plastic products should be avoided,' Yadav said, reading out India's statement at the plenary. The draft text of the treaty currently runs into 35 pages and contains nearly 1,500 brackets denoting the disagreements over the text and import of the language. This text is put together with the help of 'contact groups' which see representatives of countries discuss Articles of the treaty in detail. Despite the vast gulf between country positions, Inder Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that the treaty 'was within grasp', and even as the negotiations were not easy, they could deliver. In Busan too, India had backed production cuts, however, this time it has explicitly backed Arab countries, and taken a position on omitting any lists of products that should be phased out. This is significant as India has already passed domestic regulation to ban single-use plastic products such as balloon sticks, cutlery, straws, and certain packaging, which is of high littering potential. Under Annex Y of the plastics treaty's draft text, single use straws, cutlery, carry bags, rinse-off cosmetics, personal care products containing microbeads are some of the items included for phase-out. Yadav added that the treaty should have provisions on technical and financial assistance, including technology transfer, to developing countries to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. '…a stand-alone dedicated multilateral fund providing financial resources to developing countries for meeting costs for their compliance obligations is required,' Yadav said. The Like-Minded countries India has aligned with have consistently opposed steps to cut plastic production, use of chemicals of concern in production in the treaty. Meanwhile, the European Union, Mexico, many African countries, Australia have pushed for 'high ambition', such as including production cuts and addressing the entire life-cycle of plastic production rather than focussing on plastic waste management. Kuwait's representative said during the stocktake that countries must agree on what can be agreed upon and consensus must be the foundation of the treaty. 'There will be no successful treaty without half of the world's population…any attempt to move forward without consensus risks producing an instrument which is neither legitimate nor implementable.' The formal deadline to achieve a global treaty, akin to the Paris climate treaty, ended in failure in Busan, Korea, last December. However, talks have carried on after it was decided to resume where things stalled in Busan. EoM An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Science
- Japan Forward
Planting the Future: Children Help Revive Coastal Seagrass in Yokosuka
On July 12, a hands-on event was held in Yokosuka City where participants planted Japanese eelgrass ( Zostera japonica ) in the sea. The event aimed to combat the "desertification" of coastal waters and raise awareness of marine conservation among children and their families. Participants first learned about the important role of seagrass and seaweed beds, often called the "cradle of the sea." They then planted eelgrass seedlings themselves. The event marked the first joint initiative by the Miura Peninsula Blue Carbon Meeting, a partnership between five municipalities in the region. Around 100 participants and staff from across the Miura Peninsula gathered at Recycling Plaza Aicle, a coastal processing facility in Yokosuka City. Normally closed to the public, the area is home to a preserved eelgrass habitat. It is one of the few remaining natural coastal areas in Tokyo Bay. "Beds of eelgrass, such as common and Japanese eelgrass, serve as feeding grounds for small fish, shrimp, and crabs. They also provide shelter from predators. They truly are the nursery of the sea," said Dr Toshitame Imai, a fisheries scientist, as he gently addressed the children using educational panels. Children listening attentively to Dr Toshitame Imai's explanation. (©Mika Sugiura) Dr Imai explained that eelgrass and seaweed beds — including species like arame ( Eisenia bicyclis ) and kajime ( Ecklonia cava )— once covered hundreds of hectares in Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay. However, environmental degradation and rising sea temperatures due to global warming have increased the appetite of herbivorous fish such as aigo (rabbitfish). This has led to overgrazing. As a result, over 90% of these beds have disappeared, contributing to a phenomenon known as isoyake, or "rocky-shore denudation." "Seaweed beds not only provide vital habitats for marine life," Dr Imai added, "they also help absorb and store carbon dioxide through photosynthesis." He emphasized their role in combating climate change through what is known as blue carbon. After the presentation, the children carefully wrapped the eelgrass seedlings in water-soluble, eco-friendly paper clay to help anchor them in the seabed. Children wrapping paper clay around the eelgrass seedlings to weigh them down (©Mika Sugiura) "I pretended I was a fish and tried biting the eelgrass," laughed 10-year-old Youya Watanabe, a fourth grader from Hayama Town. "But it was bitter and tough." He often visits the local beach and showed keen interest in the activity. Japanese eelgrass seedlings. (©Mika Sugiura) In May 2024, the cities of Yokosuka, Kamakura, Zushi, and Miura, along with Hayama Town, established the Miura Peninsula Blue Carbon Meeting. Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by coastal ecosystems. These include eelgrass beds, seaweeds like wakame , and phytoplankton, all of which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The concept was introduced in 2009 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a promising tool in the fight against climate change. Each municipality had previously addressed coastal degradation on its own. Efforts included controlling species like sea urchins and aigo , which damage seaweed beds. Now, by sharing knowledge and collaborating, the municipalities aim to restore coastal ecosystems more effectively and promote blue carbon initiatives. Children planting Japanese eelgrass using shovels. (©Mika Sugiura) Since 2024, Yokosuka City has organized seagrass planting events for children in cooperation with the local nonprofit Yokosuka Sea Citizens' Council. This most recent event was the first held jointly by all five municipalities. With promotion from each city and town, it attracted a wide range of participants, including many from Hayama. The turnout reflected growing regional cooperation. The children moved to a shallow coastal area behind the Aicle facility. Using shovels, they dug into the seabed and carefully planted the seedlings they had wrapped earlier. Their faces showed deep focus and determination. After planting, the children explored the sea using box goggles. When a net was swept through the seaweed bed, they discovered cuttlefish eggs, prompting cheers of excitement. A smiling girl holds up a crab. (©Mika Sugiura) Some of the Japanese eelgrass planted in 2024 had already taken root. The sight of the plants swaying underwater gave participants a clear sense of the impact of their efforts. The Sea Citizens' Council has been working for three years to restore seagrass and seaweed beds, including Japanese eelgrass. These now cover about 270 square meters. The purple area shows the extent of the restored seagrass and seaweed bed. (Courtesy of the Yokosuka Sea Citizens' Council) "Even though we live on a peninsula surrounded by the sea, some children have never played in it or even touched it," said Masato Kawaguchi, the council's representative. "We hope these kinds of experiences help kids feel a connection to the ocean, see that marine life is returning, and start thinking about environmental issues." Drone footage from the Japanese eelgrass planting event. In October 2020, Japan declared its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The four cities and one town of the Miura Peninsula have made the same pledge. They are now working to accelerate their climate action. A central pillar of this effort is a subsidy program supporting the installation of solar panels and storage batteries. Yokosuka City applied for funding through the environment ministry's Priority Measures Acceleration Project. Together with the other municipalities, they secured ¥1 billion (about $6.8 million USD) in subsidies over five years. The program provides financial assistance to individuals and businesses for installing solar and battery systems. This reduces upfront costs and encourages wider adoption. Applications for the current fiscal year are open until January 15, 2026, with subsidies continuing through 2028. If fully utilized, the initiative is expected to add about 9,000 kW of renewable energy over five years. It could reduce carbon emissions by 110,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual emissions of roughly 1,600 households. The environment around us is changing rapidly. Population decline, climate change, and intensifying natural disasters are becoming more urgent issues. While each person's actions may seem small, collective effort and awareness are essential. Cooperation across municipal boundaries is key to solving global challenges. Children learning about marine life collected from the sea. (©Mika Sugiura) "We used to be limited when it came to activities outside our city," said Kawaguchi. "But the ocean is all connected. Being able to work across jurisdictions is a major step forward." Yokosuka Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji, who initiated the regional collaboration, echoed that message: "We're committed to working together to pass down our rich seas and natural environment to future generations." The Miura Peninsula's unified approach could become a model for communities across the country. Landlocked and Coastal Students Unite to Fight Marine Debris Author: Mika Sugiura
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Indian village swallowed by mudslide: What happened – and why?
More than 100 people are missing and at least four people have died after flash floods swept through the village of Dharali, in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. Teams from the army and disaster response forces are operating in the area to rescue people trapped under debris, local authorities have said. 'A massive mudslide struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement,' the Central Command of the Indian Army said in a post on X. Flash floods in Uttarkashi, where Dharali is situated, were triggered by intense rainfall known as a 'cloudburst', which caused the Kheerganga river to swell, at around 1:30pm local time (08:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that heavy rainfall will continue for the next few days. What is a cloudburst? A cloudburst is an intense downpour that delivers a large volume of rain in a short time. It is often accompanied by thunder and hail and can cause flash floods. At any given time, clouds blanket about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. Cloudbursts are often associated with cumulonimbus clouds, which contain large amounts of water. The IMD said that over the past 24 hours, extreme rainfall of 21cm (8.3 inches) or more had been recorded in parts of northwest India, including Uttarakhand, where the flash floods happened – more than the 10cm (3.9 inches) of rain per hour required to be classed as a cloudburst, according to the IMD. Cloudbursts tend to occur over a small geographical region of 20 to 30 square kilometres (7.7 to 11.6 square miles) Is this caused by climate change? Uttarakhand, which has a large amount of mountainous and often unstable terrain, is prone to monsoon-related flooding. Dharali village is nestled in the Himalayas between the villages of Harsil and Gangotri. Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to climate change given the fragility of the Himalayan region. In particular, it is exposed to excessive precipitation, cloudbursts, flood events and periods of very cold weather (cold waves), according to a study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. That study found that districts in higher regions are more exposed to these effects because of their inability to adjust to weather-related and climate changes and because the ecosystems in these areas are more sensitive to such changes. Experts say global warming will cause mountain temperatures to rise faster than the global average. Catastrophic flooding that has historically affected Uttarakhand will become more common as rising temperatures lead to hastening glacier melting, such as the Gangotri, the glacier that is closest to Dharali. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, rising temperatures in the Himalayas will ultimately reduce the size of glaciers, resulting in a reduction in the long-term availability of water for agriculture, people and power systems. It will also cause more solar energy absorption – accelerating the effects of global warming – because areas of glacial melting will be replaced by water or land, and the amount of light currently reflected by existing glaciers will decrease. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Nations will try again on plan to confront world's 'spiralling' plastic pollution mess
Live Events Nations gather in Geneva Tuesday to try to complete a landmark treaty aimed at ending the plastic pollution crisis that affects every ecosystem and person on the the sixth time negotiators are meeting and they hope the last. A key split is whether the treaty should require cutting plastic production, with powerful oil-producing nations opposed; most plastic is made from fossil fuels. They say redesign, recycling and reuse can solve the problem, while other countries and some major companies say that's not a treaty can mobilise the necessary global action, said Angelique Pouponneau, lead ocean negotiator for 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states. At home in the Seychelles, Pouponneau said, plastic contaminates the fish they eat, piles up on beaches and chokes the ocean to undermine tourism and their way of life.'It's the world's final opportunity to get this done and to get it done right,' she said. 'It would be a tragedy if we didn't live up to our mandate." United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the issues are complex but the crisis is 'really spiralling' and there's a narrow pathway to a treaty. She said many countries agree on redesigning plastic products to be recycled and improving waste management, for example.'We need to get a solution to this problem. Everybody wants it. I've yet to meet somebody who is in favour of plastic pollution,' Andersen 19 million and 23 million tons of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, that could jump 50% by 2040 without urgent action, according to the March 2022, 175 nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution by the end of 2024. It was to address the full life cycle of plastic, including production, design and last year in South Korea were supposed to be the final round, but they adjourned in December at an impasse over cutting production. Every year, the world makes more than 400 million tons of new plastic, and that could grow by about 70% by 2040 without policy 100 countries want to limit production as well as tackle cleanup and recycling. Many have said it's essential to address toxic led an effort in South Korea to address production in the treaty. Negotiator Debbra Cisneros said they'll do so again in Geneva because they strongly believe in addressing pollution at the source, not just through downstream measures like waste management.'If we shy away from that ambition now, we risk adopting an agreement that is politically convenient, but environmentally speaking, is ineffective,' she 300 businesses that are members of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty — companies such as Walmart, the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and L'Oréal — support reducing production along with increasing recycling and reuse. The coalition includes major food and beverage companies and retailers who want an effective, binding treaty with global rules to spare them the headaches of differing approaches in different plastic-producing and oil and gas countries firmly oppose production limits. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of one common type of plastic, has led that group in asserting there should be no problem producing plastic if the world addresses plastic U.S. doesn't support global production caps or bans on certain plastic products or chemical additives to State Department says it supports provisions to improve waste collection and management, improve product design and drive recycling, reuse and other efforts to cut the plastic dumped into the environment.'If the negotiations are to succeed, the agreement must be aimed at protecting the environment from plastic pollution, and the agreement should recognize the importance plastics play in our economies,' the State Department said in a statement to The Associated similar to the views of the plastics industry, which says that a production cap could have unintended consequences, such as raising the cost of plastics, and that chemicals are best regulated the United States and Germany lead the global plastics trade by exports and imports, according to the Plastics Industry Association For any proposal to make it into the treaty, every nation must agree. Some countries want to change the process so decisions may be made by a vote if necessary. India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and others have opposed that, arguing consensus is vital to an effective are discussing making some provisions opt-in or opt-out to avoid a stalemate. Bjorn Beeler, international coordinator for the International Pollutants Elimination Network, said that would mean a treaty without teeth or obligations, with little value. Cisneros said that if carefully crafted, it's an option to find some common Campbell, an executive vice president at the plastics and chemicals company LyondellBasell and vice chair of the executive committee of the World Plastics Council , said she'll ask negotiators to 'find a way to agree on a few things and get started' and then build from suggested tackling things like product redesign, recycled content mandates and financing waste collection, waste sorting and recycling contrast, Greenpeace will be in Geneva calling for at least a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040.'We will never recycle our way out of this problem,' said Graham Forbes, who leads the Greenpeace from most countries, the plastics industry and businesses that use plastics, environmentalists, scientists, Indigenous leaders and communities affected by plastic pollution are in Geneva. About 80 government ministers are attending talks that will last 10 days — the longest session yet, with adjournment scheduled for Aug. Orona, executive director of the Texas-based Society of Native Nations , has been to every negotiating session. Indigenous land, water and air are being contaminated as fossil fuels are extracted and plastic is manufactured using hazardous chemicals, said Orona.'We feel we absolutely have to be present to let them know, and see, who are the people that are really being impacted by the plastics crisis,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Nations will try again on plan to confront world's 'spiraling' plastic pollution mess
Nations gather in Geneva Tuesday to try to complete a landmark treaty aimed at ending the plastic pollution crisis that affects every ecosystem and person on the planet. It's the sixth time negotiators are meeting and they hope the last. A key split is whether the treaty should require cutting plastic production, with powerful oil-producing nations opposed; most plastic is made from fossil fuels. They say redesign, recycling and reuse can solve the problem, while other countries and some major companies say that's not enough. Only a treaty can mobilize the necessary global action, said Angelique Pouponneau, lead ocean negotiator for 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states. At home in the Seychelles, Pouponneau said, plastic contaminates the fish they eat, piles up on beaches and chokes the ocean to undermine tourism and their way of life. 'It's the world's final opportunity to get this done and to get it done right,' she said. 'It would be a tragedy if we didn't live up to our mandate." United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the issues are complex but the crisis is 'really spiraling' and there's a narrow pathway to a treaty. She said many countries agree on redesigning plastic products to be recycled and improving waste management, for example. 'We need to get a solution to this problem. Everybody wants it. I've yet to meet somebody who is in favor of plastic pollution,' Andersen said. Between 19 million and 23 million tons of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, that could jump 50% by 2040 without urgent action, according to the UN. Sharp disagreements on whether to limit plastic production In March 2022, 175 nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution by the end of 2024. It was to address the full life cycle of plastic, including production, design and disposal. Talks last year in South Korea were supposed to be the final round, but they adjourned in December at an impasse over cutting production. Every year, the world makes more than 400 million tons of new plastic, and that could grow by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. About 100 countries want to limit production as well as tackle cleanup and recycling. Many have said it's essential to address toxic chemicals. Panama led an effort in South Korea to address production in the treaty. Negotiator Debbra Cisneros said they'll do so again in Geneva because they strongly believe in addressing pollution at the source, not just through downstream measures like waste management. 'If we shy away from that ambition now, we risk adopting an agreement that is politically convenient, but environmentally speaking, is ineffective,' she said. About 300 businesses that are members of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty — companies such as Walmart, the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and L'Oréal — support reducing production along with increasing recycling and reuse. The coalition includes major food and beverage companies and retailers who want an effective, binding treaty with global rules to spare them the headaches of differing approaches in different countries. Some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries firmly oppose production limits. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of one common type of plastic, has led that group in asserting there should be no problem producing plastic if the world addresses plastic pollution. US position on the treaty The U.S. doesn't support global production caps or bans on certain plastic products or chemical additives to them. The State Department says it supports provisions to improve waste collection and management, improve product design and drive recycling, reuse and other efforts to cut the plastic dumped into the environment. 'If the negotiations are to succeed, the agreement must be aimed at protecting the environment from plastic pollution, and the agreement should recognize the importance plastics play in our economies,' the State Department said in a statement to The Associated Press. That's similar to the views of the plastics industry, which says that a production cap could have unintended consequences, such as raising the cost of plastics, and that chemicals are best regulated elsewhere. China, the United States and Germany lead the global plastics trade by exports and imports, according to the Plastics Industry Association. How high will negotiators aim? For any proposal to make it into the treaty, every nation must agree. Some countries want to change the process so decisions may be made by a vote if necessary. India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and others have opposed that, arguing consensus is vital to an effective treaty. Negotiators are discussing making some provisions opt-in or opt-out to avoid a stalemate. Bjorn Beeler, international coordinator for the International Pollutants Elimination Network, said that would mean a treaty without teeth or obligations, with little value. Cisneros said that if carefully crafted, it's an option to find some common ground. Tracey Campbell, an executive vice president at the plastics and chemicals company LyondellBasell and vice chair of the executive committee of the World Plastics Council, said she'll ask negotiators to 'find a way to agree on a few things and get started' and then build from there. She suggested tackling things like product redesign, recycled content mandates and financing waste collection, waste sorting and recycling technologies. In contrast, Greenpeace will be in Geneva calling for at least a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040. 'We will never recycle our way out of this problem,' said Graham Forbes, who leads the Greenpeace delegation. Thousands of people participating Delegates from most countries, the plastics industry and businesses that use plastics, environmentalists, scientists, Indigenous leaders and communities affected by plastic pollution are in Geneva. About 80 government ministers are attending talks that will last 10 days — the longest session yet, with adjournment scheduled for Aug. 14. Frankie Orona, executive director of the Texas-based Society of Native Nations, has been to every negotiating session. Indigenous land, water and air are being contaminated as fossil fuels are extracted and plastic is manufactured using hazardous chemicals, said Orona. 'We feel we absolutely have to be present to let them know, and see, who are the people that are really being impacted by the plastics crisis,' he said. ___
