Protecting the right to science in multilateral environmental agreements addressing chemicals and plastics pollution

Scientific evidence supports dominant institutional understandings of the global socio-ecological crises of the triple planetary crisis-climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution-demonstrating the profound impacts of human activities on Earth systems. Pollution is intimately tied to these crises, through extractivism and production of chemicals, including plastics and poses serious threats to the environment and human rights. While science is often invoked in multilateral environmental for addressing chemicals, plastics, waste and pollution, some critically important dilemmas, conflicts of interest and power imbalances arise. In this context, the Right to Science, the right of all people to benefit from scientific progress and its applications, offers a powerful yet underutilised tool. Recognised in Article 15(1)(b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, this right reinforces the importance of evidence-based decision-making. However, it is increasingly undermined by vested interests deploying strategies of denial, delay, manufactured ignorance and misinformation. Upholding this right requires concrete measures: public funding for science and education, academic freedom, data transparency, meaningful participation of diverse knowledge holders and mechanisms to address conflicts of interest. Embedding a rights-based approach into Multilateral Environmental Agreements can help ensure science serves the public interest in addressing the pollution crisis.