Planetary Health Matters: What you can do about a world drowning in plastic

Globally only around 9% of plastics are recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, fields, rivers, oceans, and our food. Only an enforceable, effective global treaty on the production of plastics can begin to reduce such pollution. — AFP Relaxnews

MOST of us know that plastic pollution is a major problem. We see it on our streets, in our rivers, on our beaches, and even in the stomachs of marine life. We read about the worrying effects of microplastics on human and planetary wellbeing.

But many of us are less aware that governments worldwide have been negotiating a global plastics treaty to tackle this crisis. This treaty could change the way plastics are produced, used, and disposed of across the world. However, progress has not been as fast as many have hoped, and corporate interests have led to some foot-dragging at the bargaining table.