People responded to incentives, even if they don’t agree with the process or feel morally compelled. If tackling plastic pollution became profitable, they would act.
This was a key point made by forestry, fisheries & the environment minister Dion George during a World Economic Forum panel on Thursday.
The minister outlined SA’s approach to plastics ahead of a meeting where the global plastics treaty would be discussed.
The treaty aims to limit the production of unnecessary plastics, promote the reuse and recycling of plastics, clamp down on the mismanagement of plastics, and reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the environment. International co-operation and collaboration is key.
Last year, the International Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee met, with more than 3,300 delegates from 170 nations and observers from over 440 organisations participating in the discussions about a treaty on plastic pollution. However, the treaty is yet to be concluded. The upcoming negotiations will be a critical juncture in the global effort to combat plastic pollution.
“We believe that you do not want a polluted environment, do not want harmful chemicals. But the way to achieve it is to work with business, to work with the community, because if you ban something, for example, you may not get the result you want,” George said, adding that plastic pollution was a problem on both land and in the ocean.
George maintained that any treaty provisions had to be underpinned by scientific evidence, particularly concerning plastics’ environmental and health impacts.
“Also, we need to be open and transparent in sharing information. And given that, specifically, if you look at the application of plastics in food, that is quite a significant issue that we need to be addressing.”
If we’re to be ambitious, we need the finances to back up the ambition.
— Dion George
Forestry, fisheries & the environment minister
George mentioned financing as a pivotal issue, particularly for African nations. Highlighting the disproportionate cost of capital in the region, he stressed the need for international support to achieve ambitious treaty goals.
“If we’re to be ambitious, we need the finances to back up the ambition,” he said, linking this to broader themes of a just transition.
SA, he argued, was committed to ensuring that vulnerable populations, including women, people with disabilities, and the poor, were not left behind in the transition to sustainable waste management practices.
George also cautioned against focusing on ideals rather than practical realities. “The biggest risk is that we lose sight of what the realities are. The US and Donald Trump — not entirely sure where that’s going, but it’s probably not going in the right direction. Asking everybody to agree on something is much harder than getting sufficient consensus to get together and then move forward and finding each other as you go along,” George said.
“So, the process matters enormously. If you want to force anybody into it, it won’t work. It is as simple as that.”
He highlighted creating incentives to encourage participation, pointing out that aligning environmental action with economic benefits could drive participation.
“Mr. Trump says, ‘Well, is it good for my economy?’ It’s good for your economy. Watch how many people will run and do it.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.