Himalayan States Grapple with Plastic Onslaught

Plastic pollution has infiltrated even the most pristine environments on Earth, from the towering peaks of the Himalayas to the depths of the oceans. This crisis is especially acute in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), where the interplay of rapid urbanization, booming tourism, and insufficient waste management infrastructure has led to a dire situation. The consequences of this unchecked pollution are far-reaching, affecting not just the local biodiversity and ecosystems but also the vital water sources that originate in these mountains and sustain millions of people downstream.

Crisis Unveiled

• Ubiquitous Presence: Microplastics, resulting from the degradation of larger plastic items, have been discovered in the Himalayas’ glaciers, rivers, and streams, posing a long-term threat to the region’s ecosystems and water quality.
• Tourism’s Toll: The surge in tourist activity has significantly exacerbated plastic waste, overwhelming the existing waste management systems in mountain towns across the IHR.
• Legislative Lapses: Despite regulations like the lid SoWaste Management (SWM) Rules 2016 and the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016, the unique challenges of the Himalayan region are often overlooked, leading to ineffective enforcement and compliance.

OECD Interim Report on Plastic Pollution

The OECD has published an interim report, “Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040: A Policy Scenario Analysis,” before the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC3) scheduled for November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. This session aims to forge an international agreement on combating plastic pollution. The previous session, INC2, took place in Paris, France, in June 2023.

Ripple Effect of Pollution

• Biodiversity at Risk: Pollution is not just a local issue but impacts the biodiversity and health of ecosystems throughout the IHR, threatening the survival of numerous species and the integrity of natural habitats.
• Water Crisis: The contamination of the Himalayas’ rivers and streams jeopardizes the quality of water available to communities downstream, affecting agriculture, drinking water, and overall public health.

Plastic Pollution Forecast and Action Scenarios

Current Situation: In 2022, the world saw 21 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste entering the environment. Without intervention, plastic leakage is projected to increase by 50% by 2040, leading to 30 MT of plastic waste, with 9 MT affecting aquatic environments. This equates to the daily disposal of plastic equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks into water bodies.

Scenario Projections: Maintaining 2020’s plastic production levels until 2040 would still lead to 12 MT of leakage. Conversely, ambitious global measures could significantly cut waste generation, virtually eliminating mismanaged plastic and leakage by 2040.

Impact of Growing Plastic Consumption: The increase in plastic usage and disposal leads to environmental degradation (e.g., habitat destruction, soil pollution), climate change implications (due to greenhouse gas emissions), and health risks. Plastics are responsible for 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, totaling 1.9 GtCO2e in 2022.

Call to Action

1. Empowering Local Governance: Local bodies must be strengthened and given the necessary resources and authority to manage waste effectively, tailored to the unique needs of the Himalayan region.
2. Infrastructure Development: There is an urgent need to build and enhance waste management infrastructure, from collection and segregation to recycling and disposal facilities, to handle the increasing volume of plastic waste.
3. Public Awareness and Participation: Sustained public education campaigns are crucial to encourage community involvement in waste reduction, segregation, and proper disposal practices.
4. Policy Reforms: Policies and regulations need to be revisited and revised to reflect the specific challenges of waste management in the Himalayas, including the development of more stringent measures against plastic use and the promotion of sustainable alternatives.
5. Data-Driven Decisions: Addressing the data gaps regarding the quantity and quality of waste generated in the IHR will enable more effective planning and implementation of waste management strategies.

Cost of Mitigative Actions

Implementing early, strict, and coordinated policies globally could reduce plastic waste by 25% below current projections by 2040. This approach could almost completely eliminate mismanaged waste, reducing it from 119 MT to just 4 MT, and significantly reduce plastic leakage to 1.2 MT by 2040. Despite these efforts, plastic accumulation in water bodies would still increase to 226 MT by 2040, which is 74 MT less than projected without intervention.

The financial cost of these global efforts is estimated at 0.5% of the global GDP in 2040, not accounting for the savings from avoiding the consequences of inaction and considering the significant environmental benefits achieved.

India Plastics Pact- A Landmark Initiative

India Plastics Pact is a pioneering initiative in Asia, set to be introduced in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Plastic Pacts are primarily business-led initiatives aimed at transforming the entire plastics packaging value chain, applicable to all forms and products.

These pacts foster collaboration across the plastics value chain, involving various stakeholders to implement actionable solutions.

Objectives: All participating entities in the Plastic Pacts commit to four key targets:

• 1. Eliminating unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign and innovation.
  2. Ensuring all plastic packaging is designed to be reusable or recyclable.
  3. Enhancing the reuse, collection, and recycling rates of plastic packaging.
  4. Increasing the use of recycled content in plastic packaging.

Inception: The first Plastics Pact was initiated in the U.K. in 2018, setting a precedent for similar initiatives worldwide.

Governments and international organizations are addressing plastic pollution through various national, regional, and international plans, initiatives, and instruments.

• Key multilateral agreements and initiatives include:
  • Group of 7 (G7) and Group of 20 (G20) initiatives, with action plans from 2015 and 2017 focused on marine litter.
  • G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Litter.
  • Osaka Blue Ocean Vision is aimed at reducing marine plastic litter.
  • Ocean Plastics Charter to tackle global plastic pollution.
  • ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris for regional collaboration in Southeast Asia.
  • Bangkok Declaration to combat marine debris in the ASEAN region.
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Roadmap on Marine Debris for collaborative efforts in the Asia-Pacific.
  • The St. John’s Declaration by the Caribbean Community focuses on regional strategies.
  • The Basel Convention for controlling hazardous waste movements, including plastics.

Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC)- Overview

• Establishment: The INC was created in February 2022 during the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2).
• Governing Body: UNEA, the highest decision-making body of the UN Environment Programme, oversees the INC.
• Key Resolution: UNEA adopted the historic resolution 5/14, mandating the development of an international legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, including its impact on the marine environment, with a goal to conclude negotiations by the end of 2024.
• Initial Meeting: The inaugural session of the INC (INC-1) took place in Uruguay in 2022, marking the beginning of its activities.

In Conclusion

The mountains of plastic choking the Himalayan states present a complex challenge that requires a multifaceted approach, involving local communities, policymakers, environmentalists, and tourists. Only through collective effort and innovative solutions can we hope to preserve the majestic Himalayas for future generations.

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