20 economies set to agree on marine plastic pollution deal

TOKYO: Group of twenty (G20) major economies came together to agree a deal on reducing marine plastic waste at a meeting in Japan on June 16.

At the G20 environment and energy members’ meeting, Yoshiaki Harada, environment minister of Japan, said that Japan proposed a workable framework on marine plastic waste that involves emerging and less developed countries and was welcomed by member countries.

The proposal would be the first-ever framework to reduce plastic pollution in oceans, and is expected to be included in a joint statement by the G20 members.

Under the expected agreement, G20 members will pledge to undertake the efforts to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up polluting oceans and to reporting their progress on a regular basis.

“But given the critical situation of ocean pollution with plastics, it is urgently needed to set up legally binding action plans with clear timelines and goals,” he added.

It is estimated that only nine per cent of plastics ever-produced recycled, campaigners say that the only long-term solution to the plastic waste crisis is for companies to make less and consumers to use less.

Hiroshige Seko, Japanese industry minister, who was also co-chairing the discussions with Harada, said that Japan requires aiming businesses to charge for disposable shopping bags by as early as possible to help reduce waste.

Many countries in the world already stated charging for single-use bags or ban them outright.”From a viewpoint of global energy security, it is necessary for the international community to jointly deal with the act,” added Seko

The ministers agreed on the importance of securing stable energy supplies.