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Author comment: The global plastics treaty: understanding the present to guide the future — R2/PR7
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This literature review maps the body of scientific research on the UN Global Plastics Treaty, identifying Environmental Sciences/Ecology and Government Law as the most active subject areas, and noting an interdisciplinary character with significant gaps in author collaboration. The author argues this synthesis can serve as a foundation for researchers seeking to strengthen the literature informing the treaty negotiation process.
To mitigate plastic pollution, Resolution 5/14 of the United Nations Environment Assembly established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with negotiating the Global Plastics Treaty, an ambitious treaty expected to take effect in 2025. This treaty’s success in effectively reducing plastic pollution will depend on the ongoing work of the committee and the existing literature. Herein, I review the literature on the Global Plastics Treaty based on a search of the Web of Science. The data were analyzed, mapped and discussed in depth. The literature indicates an interdisciplinary nature, where Environmental Sciences/Ecology and Government Law are the subject areas with the highest contribution. Plastic pollution is a prominent emerging trend and research topic. Notable gaps include the need for stronger connections among the various directions in the literature and limited collaboration among authors. This work may serve as a basis for other researchers aiming to enhance the literature on the Global Plastics Treaty.
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