Several million tons of plastic are floating in the oceans and threatening the environment. At a UN conference, 175 countries are discussing how waste can be reduced. Environment Minister Lemke is pushing for a reduction in plastic production.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke wants to curb plastic waste. On the occasion of the conclusion of the UN talks about an international agreement, the Green politician is pushing for global cuts in the use of plastic.
“We cannot solve the plastic problem with recycling alone,” she said together morning magazine from ARD and ZDF. It’s too big for that. “That’s why we have to reduce overall.” Cuts in plastic production are one of their main goals.
UN wants to conclude negotiations by 2025
Plastic production is also a driver of the climate crisis. “It kills animals, it pollutes the environment and is therefore a major factor in the extinction of species,” said the minister.
Garbage is a major problem, especially in the oceans. According to estimates by scientists, several million tons of plastic are floating in the world’s oceans and are also washed up on the beaches of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. That’s why it’s good that work is currently being done on an international solution, said the politician.
Lemke does not expect quick results. The negotiations should not be completed until 2025 anyway, she emphasized. However, this is “quite quick for a global agreement”.
Lemke wants to reduce disposable waste
In view of the increasing plastic production worldwide, the minister wants to act quickly. According to an OECD study, the amount of plastic produced has doubled in the past 20 years. For Germany, Lemke announced further initiatives to reduce waste. There is “a certain recycling rate” in this country because of a relatively good waste separation system, she said. Overall, the country needs to get better. “We’re lagging behind. We have a very high volume of waste.”
Lemke announced that she would present an amendment to the Packaging Act in June. The aim of the project is to reduce the use of disposable waste and to promote reusable solutions. The total amount of waste should also be reduced.
175 countries for talks in Paris
The UN talks in Paris on the international agreement end today. Government officials from 175 countries had been looking for ways to reduce production and find better solutions for disposal and recycling since Monday. It is the second of five advisory rounds.
Last year, the 175 nations pledged to agree on a legally binding UN agreement against the drastically increasing plastic pollution of the environment and seas by 2024. Saudi Arabia, Russia, China and India want to prevent the future contract from being accepted with a two-thirds majority.