Ending Plastic Pollution: UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution
/At the 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) representatives from 175 UN member states committed to a global agreement in the fight against plastic pollution. This is the first of its kind, having been described as “truly historic”, and will ensure legally binding commitments from governments to hold them accountable to ‘turn off the tap’ on plastic pollution.
Titled ‘End Plastic Pollution’, the treaty will create global rules and obligations for the whole life cycle of plastic, from plastic production and transport, to manufacture, consumption and disposal with the goal of ending plastic pollution.
Lord Zac Goldsmith, UK Government Minister for International Environment, attended the Assembly, commented:
This agreement by governments at UNEA is truly historic, and I’m so proud that the UK co-sponsored the proposals and helped get them over the line. In the space of just one human lifetime, we have caused unimaginable damage to the global environment, choking every single part of the global ocean with plastic pollution. And although there is much to be done now to turn it into an ambitious and far-reaching treaty, we can now begin to close this ugly chapter. I am so grateful to UK negotiators for their fantastic work securing agreement this week.
Although the treaty will not be finalised and signed until November 2024, this is a huge step in the right direction and because the treaty will be legally-binding, all the countries who agreed to it will have to comply with it.
As Greenpeace writes, ‘A strong global plastics treaty means ensuring a holistic approach to ending the plastic pollution crisis by:
creating strong legally binding commitments to ensure compliance from governments and industry
keeping oil and gas in the ground, and protecting our climate;
big brands switching to refill and reuse systems and reducing single use plastic pollution;
holding countries accountable for managing their own waste and ending waste colonialism; and
governments working to ensure a just transition for workers and the health of the most affected communities.
This treaty puts us on track to solving the plastics problem, as Monica Medina, a US delegate to UNEA 5.2 said “We have lots of work ahead of us, but it is the beginning of the end of the scourge of plastic on this planet.”
As of April 23 there have been 4 meetings discussing the treaty, held by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. The fifth and final negotiations are due to take place in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from 25 November to 2 December 2024. This will be followed by a Diplomatic Conference where Heads of State will sign the agreement.
Now more than ever it is important for all of us to keep up the pressure on those in power to ensure the Treaty is drawn up in time. Head to the Greenpeace link below to sign their petition to keep up the pressure or write to your local MP showing your support and excitement about the treaty.
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