Bridging data gaps to support the Global Plastics Treaty.
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| Title: | Bridging data gaps to support the Global Plastics Treaty. |
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| Authors: | Tan, Quanyin (AUTHOR), Houssini, Khaoula (AUTHOR), Wei, Fan (AUTHOR), Geyer, Roland (AUTHOR), McCauley, Douglas J. (AUTHOR), Li, Jinhui (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science. 7/9/2026, Vol. 393 Issue 6807, p147-150. 4p. |
| Subjects: | Data harmonization, Treaties, Knowledge gap theory, Plastic marine debris, Government report writing |
| Abstract: | In 2022, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) began developing an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on ending plastic pollution. After five sessions, originally planned to culminate in INC-5.2 in August 2025, member states compromised extensively on contentious issues (1) but failed to achieve consensus. An additional session is scheduled for March 2027 to advance the instrument. Adoption of the treaty will mark only the initial phase of global efforts to combat plastic pollution. Robust data are essential at every stage of this journey to map out and implement actionable solutions: negotiating scientific data-based measures, conducting effectiveness evaluations, and establishing standardized global data systems with scientific and societal value. Yet the INC-5.2 chair's text fails to prioritize binding data disclosure obligations. We provide national reporting recommendations for the ILBI, outlining data harmonization, metrics along the supply chain, and pollution hotspot identification to support treaty implementation and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | In 2022, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) began developing an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on ending plastic pollution. After five sessions, originally planned to culminate in INC-5.2 in August 2025, member states compromised extensively on contentious issues (1) but failed to achieve consensus. An additional session is scheduled for March 2027 to advance the instrument. Adoption of the treaty will mark only the initial phase of global efforts to combat plastic pollution. Robust data are essential at every stage of this journey to map out and implement actionable solutions: negotiating scientific data-based measures, conducting effectiveness evaluations, and establishing standardized global data systems with scientific and societal value. Yet the INC-5.2 chair's text fails to prioritize binding data disclosure obligations. We provide national reporting recommendations for the ILBI, outlining data harmonization, metrics along the supply chain, and pollution hotspot identification to support treaty implementation and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00368075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.aea6562 |
