The Global Plastics Treaty: A Call to Action for Human and Planetary Health

As ministers and diplomats convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for crucial talks to finalize a UN-backed global plastics treaty, a groundbreaking report published in The Lancet sounds the alarm: Plastic pollution poses a grave threat to human and planetary health.

The Urgency of Addressing Plastic Pollution

The report, co-authored by experts from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Microplastics team, offers a comprehensive assessment of the impact of plastic pollution on human health throughout the entire life cycle of plastic. It highlights the urgent need for action to mitigate the growing risks posed by plastic waste.

With an estimated 8 billion metric tons of plastic waste contaminating our planet, the presence of micro- and nano-plastic particles in remote environments and the bodies of various species, including humans, underscores the pervasive nature of the crisis.

A Call for International Cooperation

Against this backdrop, UN Member States are set to gather in Geneva from August 5-14, 2025, to finalize negotiations on a global plastics treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution. The treaty’s mandate is to establish a legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution comprehensively, including its impact on marine environments.

The report emphasizes that while the challenges posed by plastic pollution are escalating, the harm caused by plastics is not inevitable. It calls on stakeholders to seize the opportunity for meaningful international cooperation to combat this global crisis.

The Role of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics

In conjunction with the anticipated conclusion of the global plastics treaty, the report announces the launch of an independent monitoring system focused on health and plastics: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics. Inspired by the successful model of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, this initiative will track scientifically relevant indicators across the plastic life cycle to quantify human health impacts and inform decision-making.

The new Countdown will monitor indicators related to Production and Emissions, Exposures, Health Impacts, and Interventions and Engagement. By providing independent data on the health implications of plastic pollution, it aims to guide interventions and policies to safeguard public health.

A Call to Action

Professor Philip Landrigan, MD, the lead author of the report in The Lancet, underscores the urgency of addressing the health and environmental impacts of plastic pollution, particularly on vulnerable populations like children. He urges stakeholders to collaborate in finding common ground to tackle this crisis effectively.

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics was primarily funded by the Minderoo Foundation, with additional support from Boston College, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, and Heidelberg University. The report underscores the need for collective action to combat plastic pollution and protect human and planetary health.