Unpacking plastic credits: Challenges to effective and just global plastics governance
Creators
-
1.
University of California, Berkeley
- 2. California State Polytechnic University Pomona
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3.
University of Edinburgh
- 4. Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
- 5. Roskilde Universitet
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6.
University of Copenhagen
- 7. University of Exeter
- 8. Utrecht University
- 9. Institute of Ecology and Environmental Science of Paris
- 10. Australian National University
Description
Amid growing concerns over plastic pollution and ongoing efforts to develop a global plastics treaty, this paper critically examines plastic credits as a compensatory measure for addressing plastic pollution. Despite claims of being a novel financing and control measure, plastic credits mirror the shortcomings of carbon credits and fail to account for the material complexities and varied impacts of different types of plastics. If linked to public policy, plastic credits risk creating regulatory loopholes and delaying more effective measures like sector-specific plastic reduction. We argue that plastic credits do not represent an innovative approach to genuine plastic pollution reduction or its financing; instead, they could exacerbate fragmented plastics governance and reinforce legitimation of waste colonialism.
[This preprint version is currently under peer review]
Files
Preprint_Unpacking plastic credits.pdf
Files
(800.5 kB)
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