Global Plastics Treaty at UNEA 5.2 – Will it happen and will it be a gamechanger to tackle plastic pollution?

Hello.

When we talk of Global Plastics Treaty at UNEA 5.2, Nairobi (meeting is underway as I write), three things come to our mind: what is Global Plastics Treaty, what is UNEA, and is plastic pollution a real problem?

Lets start with the last question first and then see how UNEA and the Treaty serve their purpose with regard to it.

Although it is the obvious, still some facts will highlight the seriousness of need to tackle plastic pollution:

1. •Going by present trend, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050. (UNEP)

Photo credits: All_free_download.com

2. •300 MT of global annual plastic waste is generated, which is actually equal to the weight of whole human population. (UNEP)

3. •Great Pacific Garbage Patch , the ocean debris patch, is not the only one but the most notable one and it is roughly thrice the size of France.

Photo credits: Forbes.com

4. •If the whole lifecycle of plastics were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. (Maritime)

So how does UNEA come to the picture? (URL: http://www.unep.org/environmentassembly)

•It is the governing body of UN Environment Programme and was set up in 2012

•It is the world’s highest level, decision-making body on environment

•It meets once in two years and has 193 Member States

•Its fifth session was divided into two parts – first part was completed in February 2021 and the second session is between Feb 28 to Mar 2 in Nairobi (UNEA 5.2)

•In UNEA 5.2, three resolutions related to plastic treaty have been tabled – Considering the seriousness of plastic pollution, a need has been increasingly felt to manage plastic in a holistic and global way. And it is here that Global Plastics Treaty is relevant.

So what are the three resolutions of the plastic treaty tabled in UNEA 5.2?

1. Internationally legally binding agreement on plastic pollution proposed by Rwanda and Peru

2. Internationally legally binding agreement on marine plastic pollution proposed by Japan (plastic is 85% contributor to marine pollution)

3. Framework for addressing plastic product pollution including single-use plastic pollution proposed by India

These three resolutions differing in scope and strictness with the first one being the strictest.

Whether the global plastics treaty is signed, and in which form, it will be clear only after March 2, 2022. I will share the main takeaways of this meeting in my next blog.

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Five Takeaways for Green Economy from Union Budget 2022, India

Continuing a focussed approach towards prioritizing climate action and clean India, this Budget came up with a few good initiatives for propelling green economy.

To start with, there is an increased allocation to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. Up from 5.6% from Budget 2021, allocation this year has been Rs. 3,030 Crores (even though it is less than 0.1% of the total expected National Expenditure)

This allocation is spread for various projects and activities:

Environment Ministry Allocation Breakdown, Union Budget 2022

Second takeaway is related to creating solutions for charging requirements of Electric vehicles (EVs).

Battery Swapping Policy is proposed to be tabled soon. Through this policy, issue of space constraints for EV charging stations can be taken care of while charging time for EV users will be reduced considerably as well. Other key features are: promotion of battery as a service •Private sector inclusion, and•Interoperability standards to be formulated (which implies uniform standards for EV batteries).

Third takeaway was on expected lines: promotion of solar energy.

Out of committed 500 GW of installed renewable energy (in COP26) till 2030, 280 GW is solar. To reach this ambitious target, performance-linked incentives (PLIs) of Rs. 19,500 Cr are allocated for manufacturing high-efficiency solar PV modules.

Rise and rise of installed solar energy power generation

Fourth takeaway seeks to incentivize use of biofuels like ethanol for blending in pure fuels.

•Additional excise duty of Rs 2 per litre from October 1, 2022 if unblended fuels are used (i.e., pure petrol and diesel)

Fifth and the last but not least takeaway is launch of the Sovereign Green Bonds for the first time in India. They form a part of Government borrowing. They are basically debt instruments, issued with a pledge for financing eco projects, i.e., those aimed at reducing carbon intensity. These bonds have been in market from 2007 but made a debut in India only in this year’s budget.

Continuing Initiatives from last year’s budget include:

•National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) – FY 2019-24: •Reduction of air pollution by 20% in 5 years; disbursal of allocation directly to urban local bodies

•Voluntary Vehicle Scrapping policy: Automated fitness tests for passenger vehicles of more than 20 years and commercial vehicles of more than 15 years – scrapping of vehicles if failed tests

•Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2 – FY 2021–26 – Rs. 14,678 Cr allocated: For waste water and fecal sludge management •Single-use plastic reduction •Construction and demolition waste management •Legacy dumpsites’ bioremediation

•Allocation of Rs 4,000 Cr over 5 years for Deep Ocean Mission towards biodiversity conservation

Last year, Rs. 25 were allocated to R & D on Clean Hydrogen. This Budget was silent on this important area, though.

Hope you found this collection of information useful.

For above information in video format, please visit https://youtu.be/FBfvHaRuVjg

For ppt format, please visit https://www.slideshare.net/Pratimapandey/india-union-budget-2022-five-takeaways-for-boosting-green-economy-in-india

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