Orchestration within plastics governance - From global to Arctic

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• International Relations
• Policy Studies

Background:

• Increasing plastic production and inadequate waste management exacerbate global plastic pollution.
• The transboundary nature of plastics and complex value chains necessitate coordinated international regulatory responses.
• Current regulatory approaches to plastic pollution are fragmented and often ineffective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply Abbott and Bernstein's theory of orchestration to understand actors in global plastic life cycle regulation.
• To explore how orchestration theory can enhance transnational governance in addressing plastic pollution.
• To assess the role of state orchestration in accelerating plastic pollution treaty negotiations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized orchestration theory as a framework for analysis.
• Conducted participant observation within ongoing international treaty negotiations.
• Analyzed the interactions of actors involved in regulating the plastic life cycle.

Main Results:

• Identified key actors and their roles in attempting to regulate plastic pollution.
• Demonstrated that effective orchestration can overcome fragmented regulatory mechanisms.
• Observed that state orchestration can potentially expedite the governance process for plastic pollution.

Conclusions:

• Transnational governance, when properly orchestrated, offers a pathway to improved plastics regulatory performance.
• Orchestration theory provides valuable insights into managing complex global environmental challenges like plastic pollution.
• State-led orchestration may be a critical factor in achieving timely and effective international agreements on plastic pollution.