Plastic Treaty 2025: Will world leaders finally address the $1.5 trillion health crisis in Geneva?

Global plastic treaty talks in Geneva 2025: As nearly 180 nations gather in Geneva this week for talks on what could become the world’s first global treaty on plastic pollution, a new medical report is calling on leaders to confront a deeply personal consequence of plastic waste: human health, as per a report.

New Medical Report Reveals Health Costs of Plastic Pollution

Published Monday in The Lancet medical journal, the report warns that plastic is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that costs about $1.5 trillion a year, as reported by CBS News.

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Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution Under Discussion in Geneva

The latest review of existing evidence, which was conducted by leading health researchers and doctors, was published one day ahead of the fresh talks in Geneva, where experts have called on delegates from about 180 nations to attend the gathering and finally agree on a treaty after previous failed attempts, according to the report.

Philip Landrigan, a doctor and researcher at Boston College, highlighted that, "It is incumbent on us to act in response," adding, "To those meeting in Geneva: please take up the challenge and the opportunity of finding the common ground that will enable meaningful and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis," as quoted by the CBS News report.

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Plastic Exposure Harms Human Health at Every Life Stage

The report mentions that, "Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually," as quoted by the CBS News report.

The recent umbrella review of epidemiological research on the health impacts of plastic chemicals showed "consistent evidence for multiple health effects at all stages of human life for many plastic chemicals" and found that infants and young children were especially at risk," as quoted in the CBS News report.

The Lancet Countdown on health and plastics report pointed out that, "These effects include impaired reproductive potential (eg, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis), perinatal effects (eg, miscarriage, reduced birthweight, and malformations of the genital organs), diminished cognitive function (eg, intelligence quotient loss), insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity in children, and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and cancer in adults," as quoted in the report.

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Plastic Production Is Skyrocketing While Recycling Lags

The report found that the amount of plastic produced by the world has risen from two million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, as per CBS News. While the amount of plastic is projected to triple by 2060 and currently just less than 10% of all plastic is recycled, according to the report.

Plastic and Climate Crisis Are Closely Connected

Landrigan explained that plastic is made from fossil fuels, and the world's plastic "crisis" is connected to its climate crisis, saying, "There is no understating the magnitude of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis," as quoted in the report.

He said, "They are both causing disease, death and disability today in tens of thousands of people, and these harms will become more severe in the years ahead as the planet continues to warm and plastic production continues to increase," as quoted by the CBS News report.

FAQs

How does plastic affect my health?
Many plastics contain harmful chemicals that can interfere with hormones, cause reproductive issues, and increase the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer, as per the CBS News report.

Is plastic connected to climate change?
Yes. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and its production and disposal contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, as per the CBS News report.