Zhou Xin, Xu Bohan
Institute for East Asian Law, University of Freiburg, 79098 Freiburg am Breisgau, Germany.
School of Law, Dalian Maritime University, 116026 Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Apr;213:117653. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117653. Epub 2025 Feb 8.
Marine plastic pollution poses a severe threat to the environment and human society, demanding urgent global action. However, efforts are hindered by fragmented legal frameworks, unclear responsibilities, and weak enforcement. The ongoing negotiations on the Draft International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, hereinafter referred to as the "Global Plastic Treaty", may present a potential breakthrough. However, significant differences persist, and by December 2024, negotiations have stalled. This paper uses SWOT analysis to assess China's strategy and role in tackling the marine plastic pollutions and its position in the current negotiations. Strengths include its policy experience, industrial capacity, and governance potential, while weaknesses include regional disparities and technological gaps. China faces opportunities for international cooperation but also challenges in compliance and trade. It should leverage its industrial strengths, pursue technological advancements, and seek global cooperation to tackle marine plastic pollution effectively. In negotiations, China should uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and advocate for the regulation of plastic products based on their hazard classification.
海洋塑料污染对环境和人类社会构成严重威胁，亟需全球采取紧急行动。然而，零散的法律框架、责任不明确以及执法不力阻碍了相关努力。目前正在进行的关于《塑料污染国际具有法律约束力文书草案》（以下简称“全球塑料条约”）的谈判可能带来潜在突破。然而，重大分歧依然存在，到2024年12月，谈判陷入停滞。本文运用SWOT分析来评估中国在应对海洋塑料污染方面的战略和作用及其在当前谈判中的立场。优势包括政策经验、产业能力和治理潜力，而劣势包括区域差异和技术差距。中国面临国际合作机遇，但在合规和贸易方面也面临挑战。中国应发挥产业优势，追求技术进步，并寻求全球合作以有效应对海洋塑料污染。在谈判中，中国应坚持共同但有区别的责任原则，主张根据塑料产品的危害分类对其进行监管。
