THE HINDU (05.12.
2024) EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
A cut in time
Economic costs of ban on plastic must be seen with its ill-effects on health
Despite a week of wrangling, an ambitious endeavour piloted by the United Nations Environment
Programme to phase out plastic turned out to be a failure. The Global Plastics Treaty is the result of a
resolution by member-countries of the United Nations, passed in 2022, to ‘end plastic pollution,
including in the marine environment.’ Over the next two years, countries met five times, including the
latest (billed as the final one), to create a broad framework agreement. The UN resolution of 2022 was
deemed historic as it gave the impression that the world was unanimous that plastic pollution could
only be addressed through globally coordinated action. However, it is the solution to the problem that
has proven to be divisive. Of the nearly 170 countries gathered at the fifth round of meetings in Busan,
roughly half — led by the European Union and supported by Pacific island-nations — were of the view
that despite the usefulness of plastic and its significant role in enabling mass consumption through the
modern era, its relative indestructibility was now an environmental hazard. It had begun to seep into
the bodies of animals, both of the land and sea, and had progressed to be much more than an eyesore
in the form of litter flowing out of overwhelmed municipal recycling systems.
The claim that better recycling and re-use will redeem the situation, these nations believe, is a pipe
dream and, therefore, imposing gradual cuts on the source of plastic, virgin polymer, was the only
effective route to ending plastic pollution. However, many of the large developing countries, and those
with economies premised on the extraction of oil and petrochemical refining, baulk at such a proposal.
They view calls to cut plastic production as trade barriers masquerading as environmentalism. They
view the framing of the plastic pollution problem as one that requires regulating production as
something that goes beyond the intent of the 2022 resolution. While talks have stalled, it is likely that
countries will reconvene next year — possibly with a fresh perspective — and get beyond the impasse
more creatively. India has chosen to side with the countries that are averse to production cuts; yet, it
must acknowledge that its capacity to recycle plastic is only about a third of the plastic that is annually
introduced. The indispensability of plastic to the economy cannot be a permanent excuse to delay
action on evaluating its health impacts on people in India, its ecology and marine environment. A
planned exit is always better than finding oneself on the wrong side of history.
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MEANINGS OF DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR USAGE
1. Wrangling (N): Engagement in a long, complicated dispute or argument.
[ ర న దన ]
Syn: Contention, Argument, Conflict, Controversy
Ant: Accord, Agreement, Harmony
Eg: The party was torn apart by wrangles over fiscal policy.
2. Pilot (V): Test (a scheme or project, etc.) before introducing it more widely.
[ప శ ట ం ప ం ట]
Syn: Trail, Test, Model, Sample
Ant: Implementation, Deployment, Completion
Eg: The scheme is already piloted in Germany.
3. Deem (V): Regard or consider in a specified way. [ ం ట/ ప గ ం ట]
Syn: Assume, Believe, Expect, Feel
Ant: Disbelieve, Disregard, Forget, Ignore
Eg: I deem it an honour to be invited.
4. Hazard (N): A danger or risk. [ ప దం, ఆపద]
Syn: Peril, Risk, Threat
Ant: Safety, Assurance, Protection
Eg: Hot lights can become a fire hazard when put on a dry tree.
5. Seep (V): Flow or leak slowly through porous material or small holes.
[స ం , య ]
Syn: Drain, Flow, Ooze, Percolate
Ant: Pour, Flood, Gush, Surge
Eg: Water began to seep through the soles of his boots.
6. Redeem (V): Compensate for the faults or bad aspects of. [ మ క ం ట]
Syn: Compensate, Recover, Reclaim
Ant: Forfeit, Lose, Abandon
Eg: You can redeem this coupon at any store.
7. Pipe dream (N): An unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme. [ ధ ం ఆ చన]
Syn: Daydream, Chimera, Fantasy
Ant: Reality, Fact, Truth
Eg: I fear that it is a pipe dream.
8. Masquerade (V): Pretend to be someone one is not. [మ క న ం ట]
Syn: Disguise, Attitudinize, Impersonate, Mask
Ant: Be honest, Reveal, Unmask
Eg: He was masquerading under a false name.
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9. Averse (Adj): Having a strong dislike of. [ ఖత]
Syn: Allergic, Hesitant, Hostile, Loath
Ant: Agreeable, Friendly, Kind
Eg: He seems to be averse to exercise.
10. Baulk (V): Hesitate, or be unwilling to accept an idea. [జం ట, ం ట, స ం ]
Syn: Hesitate, Resist, Recoil, Demur
Ant: Accept, Proceed, Agree, Advance
Eg: Many parents may baulk at the idea of paying Rs. 10000 for a pair of shoes.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES:
1. Phase out: To discontinue by phases. [దశల ర ం ట]
Eg: The aircraft is planning to phase out the aircraft at the end of this year.
2. Turn out: Prove to be the case. [మ క ధం ప ణ ం ట]
Eg: The party turned out to be a huge disappointment.
PARAPHRASING OF THE EDITORIAL IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE
The recent failure of the UN-led initiative to establish a Global Plastics Treaty highlights the persistent
divide among nations over how to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. While the 2022 resolution to "end
plastic pollution" was hailed as historic, the latest meeting in Busan exposed the fundamental
disagreement over solutions. Countries such as those in the European Union and Pacific islands
advocate for cutting the production of virgin polymers, arguing that plastic's near-indestructibility
poses severe environmental and health risks. They see gradual reductions in plastic production as the
only viable way to address its pervasive presence, from marine environments to human and animal
bodies. However, major developing nations and economies reliant on petrochemical industries, like
India, oppose production limits, viewing them as disguised trade barriers.
This divide is rooted in contrasting priorities. Developing economies emphasize the economic utility
of plastic in enabling affordable consumption and industrial growth, while advanced economies are
more focused on environmental imperatives. India, which supports the stance against production cuts,
must still confront the limits of its recycling capacity, which handles only about a third of the plastic it
generates annually. This shortfall exacerbates the ecological and health toll, especially as unregulated
plastic waste pollutes ecosystems and infiltrates food chains. Addressing plastic pollution with
stronger domestic policies, while considering global frameworks, would demonstrate proactive
leadership in balancing economic needs with environmental responsibilities.
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A shift toward phased reductions in plastic use, coupled with investments in sustainable alternatives,
would ensure a planned and equitable transition. India and other resistant nations must evaluate the
long-term costs of inaction, including health implications and environmental degradation. Aligning
with global efforts sooner rather than later could position these countries as responsible stakeholders,
avoiding the reputational risks of being seen as hindrances to global progress on environmental
sustainability.
MATCH THE FOLLOWING:
1) Seep a) Assume
2) Masquerade b) Drain
3) Baulk c) Disguise
4) Deem d) Hesitate
Key: 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a.
Behind Mega Theatre, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderebad-60 Ph: 040-66 26 36 46, 90 300 301 85 /86
www.everestcoachingpoint.com, www.everestimpact.live
