Today at the One Ocean Summit, the United States, France, Canada, and South Korea announced their commitment to a binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution at all stages of its life cycle. This announcement comes ahead of the 5th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), which will be held February 28–March 2, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya. Nearly 1,000 organizations have signed on to a call for the United Nations to negotiate a new legally binding global instrument that covers plastic pollution across its entire life cycle—from extraction to disposal. These organizations represent civil society, indigenous peoples, workers and trade unions, and other organizations, as well as scientists from around the world. Plastic Pollution Coalition, along with other organizations in the Break Free From Plastic movement, expressed their support for the announcements.
“We are pleased to see these strong commitments towards a more just, equitable world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. It is critical that a new global plastics treaty address the plastics crisis at all stages of its life cycle. We invite world leaders to join in to pursue and negotiate a bold and binding treaty that will help us build a better future."
— Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of Plastic Pollution Coalition
Individuals may also sign on to support the call for a bold, binding treaty ahead of UNEA 5.2.