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From fragmentation to coherence. The UN plastics treaty as the law's response to the environmental crisis
Original title: Od fragmentacji do koherencji. Traktat ONZ w sprawie plastiku jako odpowiedź prawa na kryzys środowiskowy
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Plastic pollution is a growing global health and environmental crisis, and countries are now negotiating a UN treaty to tackle it together. This paper reviews that negotiation process, comparing it to existing environmental laws to identify gaps, and explains what the treaty could mean for regulations in the EU and Poland. Stronger, more coordinated plastic laws could ultimately mean less plastic and microplastic exposure in our food, water, and bodies.
The purpose of this paper is to show the scale of the problem of plastic pollution, its impact on human health, the environment and biodiversity, while taking into account the current state of scientific research and the normative response from the international community and national legislatures. The text aims to analyse the negotiation process of the UN Plastics Treaty, with a particular focus on its relevance to international environmental law, the differences in the positions of the participating states, and the potential implications for national legislation, including European Union and Polish law. The paper also makes a comparative analysis of the proposed treaty with existing environmental conventions, pointing out areas in need of integration, coordination or recodification.
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