INC-5 talks in Busan stalled over disagreements on reducing plastic production and banning harmful chemicals, delaying action on plastic pollution
Fossil fuel giants resisted plastic production cuts, viewing plastics as a growing market amid the rise of renewable energy
Plastic waste contaminates soil, water, and oceans, threatening ecosystems
Plastic production has surged by 70 per cent over the past 15 years
India generates 20 per cent of global plastic waste annually
Inefficient garbage collection, open burning, and non-recyclable plastics worsen the issue
Only 60 per cent of plastic waste is recycled, primarily by the informal sector
Regulatory bans, such as on plastic straws, lack proper enforcement mechanisms
The failure of INC-5 underscores the need for local and global solutions
India must strengthen waste management systems and enforce bans effectively