A legally binding Global Plastics Treaty is being negotiated in Geneva, aiming to address the growing crisis of plastic pollution worldwide. The treaty seeks to curb the production of single-use plastics, which are expected to triple by 2060 if left unchecked.
According to a report published in The Lancet, plastics pose a significant threat to human health due to the presence of thousands of toxic chemicals that can cause disease and disability. Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College, warns that children are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, with exposure leading to decreased IQ, reproductive organ damage, and liver problems.
The report estimates $1.5 trillion in annual health-related costs due to plastics. The plastic industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with the production of single-use plastics liberating 2.4 gigatons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.
Dr. Landrigan calls for two key measures from the Geneva negotiations: a cap on global plastic production and strict regulation of the over 16,000 chemicals in plastics. Without these measures, the plastic pollution crisis will continue to worsen, posing an existential threat to human health and the planet.
Source: https://www.democracynow.org/2025/8/7/lancet_health_impact_of_plastics