Barely three and a half years since the adoption of United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14, the world is about to agree on a new historic instrument to end the menace of plastic pollution.

To this end, about 179 countries alongside more than 1,900 other participants from 618 observer organisations, including scientists, environmentalists and industry representatives, are meeting from August 5 to 14 at the United Nations Geneva forum.

The 10-day forum is expected to share tried and tested ways of reducing plastic use, such as non-plastic substitutes and other safer alternatives.

Ahead of the talks in Geneva, the medical journal, The Lancet, published a warning that the materials used in plastics cause extensive disease “at every stage of the plastics life cycle and at every stage of human life”.

The study said: “Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health” and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion yearly. ”

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Inger Andersen, said the treaty was what the world needed.

“Plastic pollution is in nature, in our oceans, in our very bodies, where it does not belong. From the intensive diplomacy I have seen over the last few months outside the formal process, I do believe that member states understand this. I believe they want a treaty. But we must be honest. Yes, there is convergence. And points of contention remain. But there is a path to a treaty even it may be narrow,” she said.

According to her, it is up to member states to find consensus and compromise to deliver an instrument that is both impactful and allows for further development in line with what the world demands. She emphasised that what matters is to keep attention on the future, free of plastic pollution, which allows everyone to prosper.