Currently, the sixth and expected final round of negotiations is taking place to achieve a global treaty against plastic pollution, which must also be legally binding.
This meeting began on Tuesday, August 5th at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.
It brings together representatives from 180 countries with the aim of advancing towards an agreement that comprehensively addresses the environmental and health crisis caused by the production, consumption, and massive disposal of plastics.
“We are facing a historic opportunity. For the first time, the world is close to achieving a legal instrument to end plastic pollution,” said Ecuadorian diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso, president of the negotiations committee, during the opening session.
The Global Treaty against Plastic Pollution is already being discussed
This process, launched in 2022 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), aims to establish the basis of a global treaty on plastics. It aims to regulate the entire life cycle of these materials, from production to final disposal.
Plastic pollution.[/caption>
During the opening of the plenary, Ecuadorian diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso (president of the negotiations) emphasized that the responsibility lies with the States, who must make concrete commitments.
“We are facing a global crisis. Plastic pollution contaminates oceans, rivers, and soils; it threatens biodiversity, harms our health, and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable communities,” he warned.
The negotiations are taking place from August 5th to 14th. The Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen, also addressed the delegates, urging them to maintain determination and a spirit of cooperation to reach consensus.
“Today, microplastics are present even in our blood. And if we don’t act, this situation will worsen,” he said.
What is expected from the global treaty on plastics?
The treaty under discussion aims to include measures to:
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Reduce the production of single-use plastics.
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Regulate harmful chemicals used in plastics.
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Promote a circular economy and sustainable recycling.
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Support developing countries in plastic waste management.
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Establish monitoring mechanisms, control, and international sanctions.
The approval of this treaty would mark a milestone in global environmental governance, similar to the Paris Agreement on climate change or the Montreal Protocol on substances depleting the ozone layer.
An urgent call to global action
Environmental pollution from plastic waste. Photo: Unsplash[/caption>
Negotiators have ahead ten days of intense conversations, which will conclude with a high-level phase next week. Ministerial authorities from around the world will participate.
The start of this stage is key to laying the foundations for an ambitious, effective treaty with concrete tools for its implementation.
UNEP insists that the problem is a direct result of an unsustainable model of plastic production and consumption, without proper waste management. Only with firm decisions and international cooperation can this be reversed.
