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Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern around the world due to the rapidly increasing production, consumption of single-use plastic products, and our inability to manage it properly. Plastic production increased exponentially, from about 2 million metric tonnes in 1950 to 348 million metric tonnes in 2017, and it is expected to double in capacity yet again by 2040. However, only 9 percent of the 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic produced since the early 1950s, has been recycled, and that most plastic ends its life in landfills, dumps and the environment is an increasing cause of concern. Plastic pollution is a major challenge in developing nations like India, where garbage collection systems are often informal with low recycling rates. The COVID 19 pandemic has exacerbated the use of plastic through personal protective equipments (PPEs). Management of this biomedical plastic waste is an addition to this existing challenge. Tackling plastic pollution is high up on UNEP's global agenda to enhance the political visibility of this concern, UNEP along with the Government of India designated it as the theme of World Environment Day 2018. UNEP also provides technical assistance through its partners to support India towards its national and sub-national initiatives. This paper highlights the magnitude of the problem and the role UNEP is playing in addressing some concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are a critical resource, essential not only to water quality and quantity, but also to human sustenance and to the thriving ecosystems. Human and ecosystem dependence on wetlands is not well recognised in governmental oversight and community attitudes. As such, markets undervalue them and businesses and industry consider them disposable. Given that the market economy controls the "new normal", it has not been uncommon for States, when formulating policies to exploit wetland resources for gain, thereby undermining their future and sustainability. India has made some attempts, both nationally and internationally to resolve these matters. This paper is an attempt to showcase one such common property resource, i.e. wetlands in the city of Bangalore, which are under tremendous stress from capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]