World leaders agree to legally binding global plastics treaty

World leaders agree to legally binding global plastics treaty

By Lucy Jones  March 4th, 2022

The historic agreement will see countries work together transform the "full lifecycle" of plastics.

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A new international plastics treaty is being hailed as the biggest climate deal since the Paris Agreement. The historic decision was taken at a United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi this week where UN member states agreed to develop a legally binding treaty on plastics.

World leaders, environment ministers and other representatives from 173 countries agreed to adopt the mandate for an International Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a legally binding UN Treaty on plastic pollution. This is the first time the UNEA has adopted a negotiation mandate for a legally binding multilateral environment agreement.

"The resolution is the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord. It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it," Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said.

The resolution calls for a legally binding instrument that addresses the "full lifecycle" of plastics, from production to disposal. It names circular economy approaches, product design, resource efficiency and environmentally sound waste management as objectives of the instrument. It also highlights "the importance of promoting sustainable design of products and materials so that they can be reused, remanufactured or recycled and therefore retained in the economy for as long as possible".

The resolution calls on all stakeholders, including UN member states and the private sector, to ramp up activities to reduce plastic waste and pollution. Treaty negotiations will take place over the next two years.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has applauded the decision, calling it a historic moment in the fight against plastic pollution and waste.

"This is a key moment in the effort to eliminate plastic waste and pollution on a global scale. The mandate agreed by UN member states opens the door to a legally binding treaty that deals with the root causes of plastic pollution, not just the symptoms," Ellen MacArthur said.

"Critically, this includes measures considering the entire lifecycle of plastics, from its production, to product design, to waste management, enabling opportunities to design out waste before it is created as part of a thriving circular economy."

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Lucy Jones

Lucy started her career working as a writer and editor in print and digital publishing. She went on to create content for Australia's leading sustainable fashion platform while completing her Master of Cultural Studies. Lucy spends her downtime at the beach, crocheting and hanging out with her cat Larry. She believes words can change the world and is stoked to help Planet Ark spread the message of positive environmental change.

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