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Hopes for global treaty to end plastic pollution
Countries worldwide could soon sign a treaty to limit how much plastic pollution we create. Representatives from 175 nations have been meeting in South Korea to talk about the problem of plastic waste. The United Nations Environment Program said the treaty is necessary to help protect the future of the planet. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about how serious the problem is. He said: "Our world is drowning in plastic pollution. Every year, we produce 460 million tons of plastic, much of which is quickly thrown away." The U.N. said a treaty is, "an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it".
Antonio Guterres gave a warning of what might happen in the future if we do not act now. He said: "By 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Microplastics in our bloodstreams are creating health problems that we're only just beginning to understand." The president of South Korea echoed Mr Guterres' comments. He asked governments to agree on a path to zero plastic pollution. He said we have relied too much on plastic because it is so convenient. He added: "The waste accumulated in our oceans and rivers now jeopardizes the lives of future generations." He asked governments, "to open a new historic chapter by finalizing a treaty on plastic pollution".
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Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
planet countries / treaty / plastic / pollution / the future / the / insurance / doomed / warning / fish / ocean / bloodstream / president / convenient / rivers / historic
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Discussion
1) What did you think when you read the headline?
2) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'plastic'?
3) How worried are you about plastic pollution?
4) What problems does plastic pollution cause?
5) How will the treaty change the plastic pollution problem?
6) What other kinds of pollution do you worry about?
7) How much plastic dop you throw away?
8) What can we use instead of plastic?
