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National rules are reshaping Asia’s plastic footprint
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While global talks on a plastic pollution treaty have stalled, this article describes how individual Asian countries are creating their own national rules to address plastic waste, even though the region produces much of the world's plastic goods.
Listen to this article As the UN plastic treaty negotiations stall, a substantive global agreement on plastic pollution appears increasingly unlikely. With consensus-based governance deadlocked, Asian countries are quietly moving on their own, which is an unexpected turn given the region’s position as the manufacturing hub for most of the world’s plastic goods. The most […]
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Towards a global plastics treaty: Navigating policy preferences and economic interests
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Countries are negotiating a global treaty to fight plastic pollution, but this study finds a split: some nations want to limit plastic production itself, while others, often those with plastic manufacturing industries, prefer focusing only on waste cleanup. If cleanup-only approaches win out, plastic production keeps growing, meaning more plastic and microplastics entering our food, water, and bodies over time.
The Need for Asian Regional Cooperation in Establishing International Agreements on Marine Plastic Debris
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This paper argues for greater Asian regional cooperation in developing international agreements on marine plastic debris, noting that insufficient national and multilateral policies have allowed plastic waste in Asian seas to grow. Asia is the largest regional contributor to ocean plastic pollution, making coordinated action essential for any effective global solution.
Plastics pollution is surging — the planned UN treaty to curb it must be ambitious
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New scientific findings on nanoplastic pollution and hazardous chemical additives are intensifying calls for a strong United Nations global plastics treaty as international negotiations resume. Without an ambitious and binding agreement, the accelerating surge of plastic pollution will continue to outpace the world's ability to manage its environmental and health consequences.
Exploring Plastic-Management Policy in China: Status, Challenges and Policy Insights
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Researchers reviewed China's plastic management policies and found that despite being the world's largest plastic producer, existing regulations remain insufficient, recommending strengthened extended producer responsibility and circular economy approaches to control plastic pollution.
The Evolutionary Trend and Impact of Global Plastic Waste Trade Network
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Analysis of the global plastic waste trade network from 1988 to 2017 found that recent national import bans have reshaped trade flows, with waste being redirected from China to other developing nations rather than reducing overall plastic waste generation.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.