Comprehension Passage

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct/most appropriate options:

A United Nations committee is meeting on May 29 in Paris to work on what is intended to be a landmark treaty to end global plastic pollution, but there has yet to be an agreement on what the outcome should be.The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics is charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. This is the second of five meetings due to take place to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. At the first meeting, held six months ago in Uruguay, some countries pressed for global mandates, some for national solutions and others for both.

Humanity produces more than 430 million tons of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste, filling the ocean and, often, working their way into the human food chain, the United Nations Environment Program said in April.

Plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with about half ending up in landfill and under a fifth recycled, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Because it’s a short timeline for treaty negotiations, experts say critical decisions are made about the objectives at this meeting.

The treaty could focus on human health and the environment, as desired by the self-named “high ambition coalition” of countries led by Norway and Rwanda, with limits on plastic production and restrictions on some of the chemicals used in plastics, for example. The coalition is committed to an international, legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution by 2040. It says this is necessary to protect human health and the environment while helping restore biodiversity and curb climate change.

Alternatively, the treaty could have a more limited scope to address plastic waste and scale up recycling, as some plastic-producing and oil and gas exporters want. Most plastic is made from fossil fuels. Countries supporting this plan include the United States, Saudi Arabia and China.

The U.S. delegation in Uruguay said national plans would allow governments to prioritize the most important sources and types of plastic pollution. Many plastics and chemical companies want this approach, too, with a plastic waste treaty that prioritizes recycling.

The International Council of Chemical Associations, the World Plastics Council, the American Chemistry Council, and other companies that make, use, and recycle plastics say they want an agreement that eliminates plastic pollution while “retaining the societal benefits of plastics.” They’re calling themselves the “global partners for plastics circularity.” They say that modern plastic materials are used worldwide to create essential and often life-saving products, many of which are critical to a lower-carbon, more sustainable future.

Björn Beeler is at the meeting as the international coordinator for the International Pollutants Elimination Network, or IPEN. He said countries need to make a plan by the end of this week to write up an initial draft of the treaty text so it can be negotiated at the third meeting.

“If there’s no text to negotiate, you’re just continuing to share ideas,” he said. “Then, because of the timeline, we could be looking at an early failure.” Mr. Beeler said the talks are “the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a global conversation to change the trajectory of plastic production growth.” He added that IPEN wants a treaty that restricts chemicals used to make plastic harmful to human health and the environment.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, how much plastic waste is produced annually by humanity?

1
430 million tons
2
 2060 tons
3
Two-thirds of global waste
4
An increasing amount each year
5
 None of the above

Sponsored

hivanix.in

Visit

This quiz is brought to you by hivanix.in

🌐 Web App Development

Quick Navigation