A global treaty to cut plastic pollution unraveled in December 2024 as oil-producing nations blocked binding limits, underscoring plastic’s deep ties to fossil fuel demand.
Adam Hanieh writes for The Conversation.
In short:
- Plastic production has skyrocketed, with more than half of all plastics ever made produced in the past 25 years. By 2050, production could double or triple.
- Plastics are petrochemical products, and by 2040, they could account for up to 95% of oil demand growth, making the fossil fuel industry increasingly dependent on plastic production.
- Industry lobbying played a key role in derailing a global plastics treaty, with fossil fuel interests opposing restrictions on plastic manufacturing.
Key quote:
“The issue is pollution. The issue is not plastic.”
— ExxonMobil statement before the South Korea treaty talks
Why this matters:
Plastics are more than waste — they are central to the fossil fuel economy. As the world pushes for cleaner energy, unchecked plastic production may lock in oil dependence for decades. Meanwhile, countries will meet again this year to try and salvage a global plastics treaty. Without regulation, plastic pollution and its health consequences will continue to worsen.
Related EHN coverage: Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health: Report
