O papel político da comunidade científica na formação do Tratado Global dos Plásticos: o caso da coalizão de cientistas por um tratado de plásticos efetivo (2022-2025)

Abstract

The formation of the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) involved the influence of various stakeholders within the realm of marine governance. This research focuses on the role played by the scientific community in this process by investigating how technical-scientific knowledge shapes environmental policies related to plastic pollution, with an emphasis on the international level. Thus, the study seeks to analyse how the scientific community shape international environmental policy in the context of the Global Plastics Treaty. This research will focus on the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. Through a multimethod approach, the investigation is based on a content analysis of documents released by the Global Plastics Treaty and the specified coalition, as well as semi-structured interviews with participants in this process. The results indicate that the scientific community actively contributed to the treaty negotiations by disseminating knowledge and engaging directly with delegations. The production of knowledge on strategic topics, aimed at facilitating political understanding, and direct engagement with delegations through focal points in negotiation sessions demonstrate the Coalition's role in informing decision-makers and contributing to a treaty grounded in robust evidence. Additionally, challenges to the influence of this scientific community were reported.