Pakistan Urges Fairness in Global Plastics Treaty, Proposes New Funding Mechanisms
At a major United Nations negotiation on plastic pollution in Geneva, Pakistan strongly called for a fairer approach to global plastic waste management, highlighting the inherent injustices faced by developing countries. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, led the delegation and presented Pakistan’s vision for a more equitable global plastics treaty, emphasizing the need to tie responsibilities to plastic consumption levels rather than solely to waste disposal.
Dr. Malik pointed out the stark contrast in per capita plastic use between the developed and developing world. In Western Europe, the average individual consumes 150 kilograms of plastic each year, while in Pakistan the figure is just 7 kilograms. Similar numbers are found in countries like India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Despite their small share in global plastic consumption, these nations often bear the brunt of plastic pollution’s impacts—much of it caused by imports of contaminated or non-recyclable plastic waste from more affluent countries.
The minister criticized this imbalance, noting that poorer nations too frequently become dumping grounds for plastic waste exported under the guise of recycling. Lacking adequate recycling infrastructure, these countries see much of this material end up in landfills, rivers, and seas, with serious consequences for their environment and public health. “Our people are paying the price for a problem they did not create,” Dr. Malik said, insisting that plastic pollution must not become “another injustice for the Global South.”
To address these challenges, Pakistan advanced a two-part solution within the ongoing treaty negotiations. The first is the creation of a “Plastic Fund” based on an Extended Consumer Responsibility (ECR) framework. Under this plan, countries with high per capita plastic use would provide financial support to less developed nations to build recycling facilities and adopt advanced waste management technology.
Secondly, Dr. Malik proposed the introduction of a global plastics credit trading system, akin to existing carbon credit markets. This system would incentivize developing nations for measurable progress in recycling, waste collection, and prevention efforts. Wealthier, higher-consuming countries could buy these credits, directing funding toward infrastructure improvements and helping integrate informal waste sector workers into safer, regulated employment.
Pakistan’s proposals aim to ensure the global fight against plastic pollution is anchored in fairness, transparency, and shared responsibility. Dr. Malik stressed that environmental protection should not come at the cost of economic justice or national sovereignty, and called on the international community to reject any system that turns poorer countries into waste dumping grounds. “Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue, it’s an issue of justice, fairness, and sovereignty,” he said. “Pakistan stands ready to lead the fight for a future where our children inherit rivers, land, and air free from the poisons of imported waste.”
