United Nations: A towering replica of Rodin's "The Thinker" is set to be engulfed in plastic waste outside the UN headquarters, as global negotiations commence to finalize the world's first treaty on plastic pollution. The installation is designed to underscore the increasing burden of plastic on human health and future generations during the ten-day talks.
According to France24.com, the sculpture will gradually disappear beneath layers of bottles, toys, fishing nets, and other refuse over the course of the discussions, which aim to establish an international accord to address plastic pollution. The six-meter-tall artwork, titled "The Thinker's Burden," is the creation of Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong.
Von Wong emphasized the importance of addressing toxic chemicals in the environment and the need for limits on plastic production. He advocates for a robust and ambitious treaty to tackle the issue. Globally, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with half designated for single-use items. Despite 15 percent of plastic waste being collected for recycling, only nine percent is successfully processed, with the remainder predominantly ending up in landfills or contributing to pollution.
In 2022, nations committed to resolving the plastic pollution crisis by the end of 2024. However, a fifth round of negotiations in December in Busan, South Korea, failed to bridge significant divides. Recent studies have shown that plastics break down into microplastics that permeate ecosystems and human biology, with consequences that are not yet fully understood.