Plastic pollution is a global crisis, choking oceans, killing wildlife, and contributing to climate change. Over 8 billion tons of plastic have been produced since 1950, with less than 10% being recycled. As marine ecosystems suffer and landfills overflow, the urgency for global solutions has never been more critical. In the latest round of talks in South Korea, countries struggled to reach a consensus on how to tackle this issue, especially concerning the reduction of plastic production.
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#PlasticPollution #GlobalCrisis #PlasticWaste #MarineLife #ClimateChange #India #EnvironmentalImpact #PlasticBan #WasteManagement #GlobalNegotiations #Oneindia #OneindiaNews
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00:00Imagine standing on a beach, the waves lapping at your feet.
00:08Yet, the shore is cluttered with plastic waste like bags, bottles, wrappers,
00:14glittering in the sunlight like a grim reminder of our unsustainable consumption.
00:20This image is no longer an isolated site, but a global reality.
00:33The plastic pollution crisis is an urgent and overwhelming issue
00:37that threatens not just our landscapes, but entire ecosystem and the very future of life on earth.
00:46Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste flood our oceans, entangling marine life,
00:53polluting the water and disrupting the balance of marine environment.
00:58Yet, as the world grapples with this escalating crisis, the path to a global solution remains uncertain.
01:07The severity of plastic pollution is undeniable.
01:11Since the year 1950s, over 8 billion tons of plastics have been produced worldwide
01:18and less than just 10% of it has been recycled.
01:26The rest accumulates in the landfills, rivers and the oceans.
01:30The impact on wildlife is catastrophic, with marine creatures like birds, fish, whales
01:37falling victim to plastic ingestion or entanglement.
01:41These plastics can take centuries to degrade.
01:45And in the meantime, they release toxic chemicals into the environment,
01:50further excavating the pollution problem.
01:55Additionally, plastic is a major contributor to the global greenhouse gas emission,
02:01accounting for 5% of total emissions, making it a dual threat to both our ecosystem and the climate.
02:15For countries like India, the situation is particularly dire.
02:19With over 1.4 billion people, India is one of the largest producers and consumers of plastic products.
02:27The country's rapid urbanization, industrial growth and population density have all led to an increase in plastic waste.
02:35In cities like Delhi and Mumbai, plastic waste has become a critical issue,
02:41with landfills overflowing and rivers choked with plastic debris.
02:45The government has attempted to tackle this through initiatives like the ban on single-use plastics
02:52and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility or in short EPR rules,
02:58which hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products.
03:04However, despite these efforts, India's recycling system remains underdeveloped
03:10and plastic continues to be an integral part of daily life, from food packaging to construction material.
03:23The recent international negotiations in Busan, South Korea, were meant to finalize a treaty to address this crisis.
03:31For more than two years, over 200 nations gathered to discuss solutions to plastic pollution,
03:38with the hope of creating a legally binding global framework.
03:43The discussion, however, ended in disappointment.
03:47Deep divisions between nations, particularly between the high-ambition countries advocating for the reduction of plastic production
03:55and oil-producing nations, concerned about economic repercussions, led to a lack of agreement.
04:02While countries like the UK and the EU and various developing nations pushed for binding commitments to reduce plastic production,
04:11oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia opposed such measures,
04:16arguing that cutting plastic production could hinder economic growth.
04:21India, too, faced a dilemma at this conference.
04:25The country's negotiators expressed concern that any drastic measure to reduce plastic production could impede its developmental rights,
04:34particularly given that plastic remains a crucial component of several industries.
04:39Instead, India called for a focus on waste management and sought financial assistance for developing nations
04:46to implement the necessary infrastructure for recycling and waste disposal.
04:51While India's stance reflects its need to balance environmental goals with developmental priorities,
04:59it highlights the broader struggle between addressing climate change and fostering economic growth.
05:06As the world moves forward, the fate of the Global Plastic Treaty remains uncertain.
05:11While the talks were a step in the right direction, the collapse of these discussions highlight the complexity of balancing environmental action and economic considerations.
05:22For India, the way forward will require an innovative solution that addresses both the urgent need to curb plastic pollution
05:30and the reality of its dependence on plastic in various sectors.
05:34The coming years will test whether nations can overcome their differences
05:39and create a meaningful framework to combat one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
05:45That's all in today's video. This is your host Rhea and you are watching OneIndia.
05:50Don't miss out. Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.