Ahead of the final global plastic pollution treaty negotiations (INC-5.2), leading researchers and charities are calling on countries to agree legally-binding commitments.
Next week, governments from around the world will meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for what is scheduled to be the final round of global plastic pollution treaty negotiations (INC-5.2).
Countries failed to reach an agreement on tackling plastic pollution last year at what was supposed to be the final round of negotiations in Busan, South Korea.
Over 100 nations wanted to cap plastic production while several oil-producing countries were only prepared to target plastic waste.
This moment offers a real opportunity to redesign the system for how we make and use plastics and build a circular economy.
At least 600 global civil society organisations have signed a manifesto that outlines key demands for a strong global treaty that leads to a ‘significant reduction’ in plastic production.
Ahead of negotiations, the WWF has called on global governments to explore all available pathways to forge a legally binding global treaty that can put an end to the plastic pollution.
WWF, supported by the evidence from the University of Birmingham’s Plastic Network, are calling for negotiations in Geneva to conclude with a treaty built on specific binding rules supported by most countries.
These include:
- Global bans on the most harmful plastic products and chemicals;
- Global product design requirements to enable a ‘non-toxic’ circular economy;
- Financial and technical support for developing countries to ensure effective implementation and;
- Mechanisms to strengthen and adapt the treaty over time.
Commenting ahead of the upcoming UN plastics treaty talks in Geneva, Rob Opsomer, Executive Lead for Plastics and Finance at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “This moment offers a real opportunity to redesign the system for how we make and use plastics and build a circular economy.
“Clear global rules can unlock innovation, scale solutions and deliver real economic and social benefits to people and businesses everywhere.
“The majority of governments and citizens support an ambitious, effective and legally binding UN treaty tackling the full lifecycle of plastics.”
Opsomer continues that to move away from a linear economy, the focus on product design is ‘more critical than ever’ as the inclusion of this in the treaty is key to transforming plastics across its entire lifecycle.