What Shall We Do With a Sea of Plastics? A Systematic Literature Review on How to Pave the Road Toward a Global Comprehensive Plastic Governance Agreement

Abstract

In February 2022, the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) is expected to mandate negotiations for a legally binding plastic agreement. In preparations for such discussions, it is important to understand the academic research behind what a global treaty on plastic will require to succeed. Therefore, a systematic literature review was conducted on 64 peer-reviewed articles published before July 4th, 2021, that focused on global plastic governance and avenues to mitigate our pollution crisis. Once reviewed, the articles were organized into a series of four main categories: (1) plastic pollution overview articles, (2) top-down solutions, (3) bottom-up solutions, and finally a (4) global treaty as a solution. The analysis of these articles enabled an overarching review and discussion of what the literature suggested is required for the creation of a global plastics agreement. First, the researchers argued that previous global plastics governance literature is characterized by an optimist governance perspective, i.e., a view of governance as a problem-solving mechanism. Second, global plastics governance as a research field could make headway by engaging in further empirical investigation of current negotiations and solutions at the national level, especially in developing nations. In the end we found that a global agreement is feasible if it allows for multi-stakeholder solutions involving industry, governance, stakeholders, and citizens.

Leaving a plastic legacy: current and future scenarios for mismanaged plastic waste in rivers

“…The current study provides an indication of the exposure level and sedimentary processes that govern the transport and deposition of MPW in the future. The 'improved waste management' and 'improved waste management and reduce plastic usage' scenarios for 2060 are in line with the four strategic goals which are being discussed as part of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (Cowan and Tiller, 2021;UNEP, 2022). These strategic goals aim to deliver the system change to a circular economy for plastics: (i) eliminate and substitute problematic and unnecessary plastic items, including hazardous additives; (ii) design plastic products to be circular (reusable, recyclable or compostable); (iii) ensure that plastic products are circulated in practice; and (iv) manage plastics that cannot be reused or recycled, including existing pollution, in an environmentally responsible manner.…”

Multi‐scalar interactions between mismanaged plastic waste and urban flooding in an era of climate change and rapid urbanization

“…UN member states have also agreed to establish a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by 2024 (Cowan & Tiller, 2021;UNEP, 2021b). Such an agreement should support addressing the problems of plastic waste throughout its entire life cycle and ideally also reducing consumption of plastics worldwide (Cowan & Tiller, 2021). One positive example of the integration of solid waste management and flood reduction strategies is the World Bank Kitakyushu Model Subsector project in Japan.…”

“…The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), for example, calls for adaptive and broad strategies which address “all dimensions of disaster risk.” UN member states have also agreed to establish a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by 2024 (Cowan & Tiller, 2021; UNEP, 2021b). Such an agreement should support addressing the problems of plastic waste throughout its entire life cycle and ideally also reducing consumption of plastics worldwide (Cowan & Tiller, 2021). One positive example of the integration of solid waste management and flood reduction strategies is the World Bank Kitakyushu Model Subsector project in Japan.…”

Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate

“…Given that this review is focused on the social dimensions of plastic pollution, it was judged that Google Scholar was an appropriate database. It provides more inclusive coverage of social sciences and humanities literature which is frequently excluded from Web of Science and Scopus (see Cowan and Tiller, 2021). A Boolean search citation was conducted on Scopus from 20 February 2000-2023 using key terms: public perceptions OR beliefs OR perspectives AND plastic pollution; social perceptions OR beliefs OR perspectives AND plastic pollution.…”