A report by Eunomia and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has concluded that reducing plastic production by 40% would not keep the industry within the Paris Agreement’s <1.5°C Carbon Budget. They have said that the report shows that more “rapid action” needs to be taken. 

The creation of the report was driven by proposals made by Rwanda and Peru at the fourth round of plastic treaty negotiations, calling for a global target to reduce plastic production by 40% by 2040. However, the report, conducted by Eunomia Research and Consulting and commissioned by the EIA, found that this wouldn’t be enough to meet the Paris Agreement 1.5°C climate target. 

In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly agreed to develop an international legally binding instrument to tackle the problem of plastic pollution – the Global Plastics Treaty. Four sessions have been held so far, with a fifth taking place at the end of the month, that hope to reach an understanding of the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal. During the fourth session, Peru and Rwanda proposed the 40x40 target, which was accepted. 

Many feel that the Global Plastics Treaty needs to better align targets with those in the Paris Agreement. “If we are to align the future global plastics treaty with the Paris climate goals the key will be ambition and political will,” said Ocean campaign leader from the EIA, Christina Dixon. “This report shows that there is still a huge gap between what governments believe is politically achievable and what is required to prevent climate catastrophe.”

In addition to not meeting Paris Agreement targets, the report concluded that the 40x40 target would unlikely be achievable anyway, as it will require a minimum 63% recycling rate. Christina Dixon added: “The time to commit to a global reduction target and peak plastic is now.”