In December 2022, 196 countries made a key commitment at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) in Montreal: to reduce and eliminate plastic pollution by 2030. This commitment is part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which establishes four objectives and 23 goals, with the reduction of plastic pollution being goal number 7. This agreement aims to hold back the loss of biodiversity that threatens ecosystems around the planet.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), between 19 and 23 million tons of plastic waste end up in seas and rivers every year. At this rate, plastic production, which grows up to 400 million tons per year, could triple in the next 40 years, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Advances in Latin America
Of the 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, 27 have implemented policies to regulate single-use plastics. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Chile have taken significant measures in this regard. Chile, for example, was a pioneer in banning the use of plastic bags in 2018, and in 2021 implemented the Single-Use Plastics Law.
Peru has taken an additional step with the publication of its National Biodiversity Strategy (ENDB for its Spanish acronym), which aligns its national goals with the Kunming-Montreal Framework. However, despite these advances, the lack of technical regulations and fragmented implementation remain a challenge to achieve concrete results.
Fishing Nets and International Plastics Treaty
One of the most dangerous threats to marine ecosystems are abandoned fishing nets, known as “ghost nets”, which harm a high percentage of marine species. According to a report by WWF, which compiles data from various scientific studies and official reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), abandoned plastics in the oceans, such as fishing nets, are the most harmful. Globally, 66% of marine mammals, 50% of seabirds and all sea turtle species have been affected.
At an international level, a Global Plastics Treaty is being worked on, which addresses the entire life cycle of these products. This treaty, which is expected to end in 2024, is key to meeting goal 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, which proposes the reduction and elimination of plastic pollution.
The next meeting in October 2024 in Cali, Colombia, COP16 will be crucial to evaluate the progress in the implementation of these policies to serve as a framework for the last round of negotiations.