Event Date: August 28, 2024, 4:00 PM to 6.00 PM
Organised by: Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA)
Join the event via Zoom: https://bit.ly/microsite-launch
The Centre for Financial Accountability is set to launch a new microsite dedicated to the campaign ‘Plastics Fuel Infertility’. This event is scheduled ahead of the final session of the International Negotiating Committee (INC-5), a critical juncture where the global community has a last opportunity to negotiate an effective treaty to combat the pervasive threat of plastics.
About the Campaign
The ‘Plastics Fuel Infertility’ campaign, led by the CFA, addresses the severe impacts of plastics and the petrochemical industry on human health, ecosystems, and the environment. The term ‘fuel’ simultaneously highlights the reliance of plastic production on fossil fuels, perpetuating a cycle of environmental degradation and also contributes significantly to climate change. ‘Infertility’ reflects both the literal health effects of plastic chemicals, which can disrupt reproductive health, and the broader environmental impacts, including compromised soil and water quality, and disrupted ecosystems. This campaign aims to advocate for sustainable alternatives, push for systemic policy reforms, hold polluters accountable, support a high-ambition global treaty, amplify the voices of affected communities, and ensure a just transition away from plastic-dependent economies.
Programme Overview
The event will feature key speakers who will explore various dimensions of the plastics issue, from policy gaps to on-the-ground realities:
Opening Remarks and Introduction
Speaker: Swathi Seshadri, Director – Research and Team Lead (Oil and Gas), CFA
Swathi will set the stage by discussing her experiences as a civil society representative at previous INC sessions, providing insights into the global discourse on plastic regulation.
The Indian Petchem and Plastics Landscape
Speaker: Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Senior Journalist and Author
Paranjoy will talk about the landscape of petrochemical and plastic production in India, focusing on the influence and practices of major industry players.
Environmental and Health Impacts of Plastic Burning
Speaker: Aarti Latkar, Research Fellow, School of Culture and Society, Department of Global Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Aarti will discuss the issue of plastic burning, how it is framed in public discourse, and its severe implications for both the environment and public health.
Impact on communities affected by the petrochemical industry
Speaker: Debasis Shyamal, President, Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum. This speaker will shed light on how everyday life is impacted by the petrochemical industry and on their livelihoods and health.
Concluding Remarks
Speaker: Joe Athialy, Executive Director, CFA
The launch of this microsite is not just a digital milestone but a call to action. As we edge closer to INC-5, we must amplify the need for a strong, legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. This event aims to both familiarise attendees with the new microsite and its resources and to mobilise support for holding polluters accountable.
Schedule:
4.00 PM to 4:20 PM: Opening remarks and context-setting by Swathi
4.20 PM to 4.35 PM: The microsite inauguration and tour
4.35 PM to 4:50 PM: Paranjoy’s talk
4.50 PM to 5:05 PM: Aaarti’s talk
5:05 PM to 5:20 PM: Debasis’s talk
5:20 PM to 5:35 PM Om Prakash’s talk
5:35 PM to 5:50 PM Questions and discussion