With the countries gearing up for COP30, climate actions will likely be discussed from the perspective of moving on from commitment to accountability. The discussion is shifting from pledges on paper to practical progress on the ground. The past few years have shown that achieving net-zero goals demands an integrated approach—one that values every resource we rely on, especially plastic and water.
Learning from COP29
COP29 reaffirmed that climate ambition must translate into equitable, inclusive action. While much of the attention centered on financing climate transition, the dialogues also underscored the urgent need to rethink resource efficiency. Countries acknowledged that plastics and water often treated as separate sustainability challenges are in fact deeply interlinked.
Plastic waste, if mismanaged, contaminates land, waterways and marine ecosystems. The lesson from COP29 was clear: circularity must be viewed not as an environmental add-on but as an essential pillar of climate resilience.
Dual Challenge of Plastic and Water
Plastic, particularly PET (polyethylene terephthalate), has become indispensable to modern life. PET remains one of the few materials that can align with the principles of a circular economy. The challenge lies not in the material itself, but in how it is collected, recycled, and reintroduced into the production cycle.
Responsible plastic waste management, therefore, begins with segregation at source, efficient collection mechanisms, and robust recycling infrastructure. A circular PET ecosystem not only reduces landfill load and ocean leakage but also minimises the carbon footprint associated with virgin plastic production.
At the same time, water management continues to demand urgent attention. Water scarcity is emerging as one of the most pressing sustainability issues, with rising demand from agriculture, industry, and urban populations. A resilient water strategy involves both reducing consumption and replenishing what is used through rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and community-led watershed revival. These measures align directly with the climate adaptation agenda of COP30.
Integrating Resource Stewardship into Climate Action
Plastic circularity and water stewardship are areas of tremendous opportunity for cross-sector collaboration. Beyond the reduction of energy and water used in producing new materials when packaging is recycled efficiently, conserving and restoring water resources strengthens those ecosystems that support recycling operations and manufacturing processes. Business has a very important role to play in this change. Embedding resource stewardship into ESG frameworks provides business with the opportunity to transition from compliance to leadership.
COP30 seeks to drive globally includes trust and accountability through transparent reporting, third-party verification, and partnerships with local communities.
Looking Ahead to COP30
As negotiators convene in Brazil, expectations are high for COP30 to deliver measurable frameworks that connect climate mitigation, circular economy, and community resilience. The conference presents an opportunity to advance global standards for responsible plastic use, harmonised recycling targets, and basin-level water management metrics.
True progress will depend on recognising that climate resilience is not built in isolation. It is a continuum that begins with every bottle responsibly collected, every litre of water replenished, and every policy designed to reward sustainable action.
The future where plastics stay in circulation and water remains secure for all is not beyond reach. It demands shared responsibility between governments, industries, and citizens alike.
COP30 can be the platform where this collective resolve takes tangible shape, transforming commitments into sustained, measurable impact.
K Ganesh is Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs at Bisleri International Pvt Ltd.
