Baku, Azerbaijan—Amid cold rain and brisk winds in Baku, where COP29 is underway, Pakistan is rallying South Asian nations to unite in urgent actions against the escalating plastic pollution crisis choking the region’s rivers and seas.
“Our region is not only polluted by plastic, but emissions from material production are increasing rapidly worldwide,” said Dr. Khalid Waleed, an energy economics and research fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Speaking during a COP29 side event on November 18, he noted that the share of total global emissions from material production had increased from 15 percent in 1995 to 23 percent in 2015.
At COP29, held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, plastic pollution and waste management were key topics, with negotiations stretching into late evening yesterday. According to a Bhutanese delegate, there was no final outcome as of 5 p.m. yesterday, though some draft texts had been prepared. “They have to be adopted formally in plenary, but the final drafts are still under negotiation,” the delegate said.
More than 72,000 participants from 196 countries have registered to attend COP29, which began on November 11. Bhutan has sent over 20 delegates to the conference.
The South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, also voiced concern over mounting plastic pollution in the region and called for a global initiative to address this critical issue.
During a panel discussion organised by Pakistan, SACEP’s Director General, Norbu Wangchuk, highlighted the severity of plastic pollution in South Asia, which affects both landlocked and coastal nations. He noted that SAARC countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Afghanistan struggle with macro- and microplastic pollution in their rivers, while Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka face severe marine plastic waste challenges.
South Asia generates 334 million metric tons of solid waste annually, with plastic accounting for 8 percent of the total. A study by Jambeck ranks four South Asian nations—Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan—among the top 20 global contributors to mismanaged plastic waste.
In his statement to the plenary session on November 20, Director General Norbu Wangchuk emphasised that South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. “Some believe South Asia will be the number one casualty of climate change,” he said. “The risks of climate change are no longer just about the future of our children; it is a daily fight for our lives and livelihoods.”
Underscoring the urgency of regional action, he cited the Asian Development Bank’s assertion that the global fight against climate change could be won or lost in South Asia and the Pacific. “We are running out of time! The tipping point is very, very near,” he said.
Norbu Wangchuk also raised concerns about unprecedented glacial melts in the Hindu Kush mountains, stressing the urgent need to halt these trends. “The risk of low-lying regions being submerged is imminent without immediate climate action. As a vulnerable region, we welcome the progress made on the Loss and Damage Fund. The fund is a lifeline to provide critical and urgent support to the most vulnerable.”
He added that SACEP is committed to fostering regional collaboration for a climate-resilient South Asia.
Plastic pollution in South Asia
According to Norbu Wangchuk, South Asia’s major transboundary river systems exacerbate the plastic pollution problem, acting as highways for waste. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin, shared by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, leaks approximately 316,911 metric tons of plastic waste into the oceans annually. Similarly, the Indus River basin, spanning Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, contributes an additional 93,512 metric tons each year. Rivers such as Sri Lanka’s Kelani and Nepal’s Bagmati also carry heavy plastic loads, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue.
SACEP aims to expand the Plastic-free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project to address transboundary pollution in international waters and foster partnerships with private companies to advance sustainable packaging solutions. Its inclusive and systemic approach serves as a model for tackling environmental challenges globally.
Launched three years ago, the PLEASE project has achieved notable milestones in community engagement, policy integration, and on-the-ground action. Over 30 percent of its initiatives involve women-led enterprises and marginalized groups, generating social, economic, and environmental benefits. The project has supported member countries in enforcing single-use plastic bans and implementing recycling incentives. Its activities include riverbank clean-ups, promotion of biodegradable alternatives, and development of urban waste management systems.
Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution
To develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in marine environments, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in Busan, Republic of Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024. The session will be preceded by regional consultations on November 24.
SACEP officials have expressed hope that this legal instrument, if endorsed, will align with the objectives of the PLEASE project and significantly contribute to protecting human health globally.
Contributed by Rinzin Wangchuk