Global Plastics Treaty - Second Wave of Negotiations Wrap Up
We’re halfway through Plastic Free July (PFJ), a month dedicated to lowering our dependency on plastics in the home, workplace, at school, out and about, as well as contributing to societal change in the form of policy and regulatory action on plastic pollution.
While we collectively work to reduce our personal usage of plastics, our efforts are circumstantial and thus look different for every person. Not all people have access to food that isn’t packaged in plastic, or clean water from the tap, spurring their reliance on bottled water. Many people can only afford clothing made from synthetic fibres, contributing to microplastic pollution in the oceans, 35% of which is microfibres from petroleum-based textiles. To address these barriers to humanity’s overreliance on plastics, we need a global paradigm shift on plastic usage and management. Globally, scientists, experts and researchers confer that Earth has breached a safe planetary level of pollution, including plastic pollution. To address the scope of the plastics crisis, 180 countries are collaborating on a Global Plastics Treaty, with the goal of finalizing the treaty in 2024.
Last month in June, country delegates, NGOs and industry representatives came together in Paris, France to conduct a second round of negotiations as the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the treaty to turn the tide on plastic pollution. The product of these negotiations is an agreement to produce a first draft of the treaty by November 2023, which critics are stating may be the most impactful environmental multi-lateral agreement since the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Now, imagine the last time you and a group of people tried to come to a decision but struggled to find common ground. Now, apply this to 180 countries, NGOs and corporations, all with differing interests regarding plastics. During INC-2 in Paris, countries were split on keeping the status quo of plastic production and enhancing end-of-life management, while others are demanding binding obligations, including Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and most of Europe. Part of these country’s sentiments is that increasing recycling is not sufficient for addressing the plastics crisis, there needs to be a dramatic reduction in plastic production, which has now reached 460 million tonnes annually.
With aquatic environments overflowing with plastics, the entire life cycle of plastic production fueling the climate crisis, and the increasing threat of plastics and accompanying chemicals impacting human health, why would there be opposition to mandatory rules for a global plastics treaty? From INC-2 negotiations, countries with economies dependent on oil and gas as well as fossil fuel industries and corporations selling plastic products and packaging do not want a legally binding instrument that will directly impact their economies and profits. A letter from Greenpeace, along with 174 civil society groups and scientists are demanding that fossil fuel and petrochemical industries and their lobbyist's power be curtailed in the negotiations; including stronger measures to stop their influence in the negotiations. Greenpeace and the accompanying signatures recommend the following measure “Support the adoption of a strong conflict of interest policy to ensure that fossil fuel and petrochemical companies are not allowed to undermine the global response to plastic pollution” as well as “Protect official spaces at and around INCs from fossil fuel and petrochemical industry influence”, including revoking fossil fuel and petrochemical industry sponsorship and participation. You can read their letter and the additional recommendations here.
Surfrider Foundation Canada has now signed on as a signatory for Greenpeace’s actions and communications calling for a Global Plastics Treaty that will cut plastic production, phase out virgin plastic production, end plastic pollution across the whole life-cycle, centre justice in treaty negotiations and outcomes, and expedite a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon, zero-waste, toxic-free and reuse-based economy. To add your name to these calls to action that will be sent to the Government of Canada, sign this petition.
In line with successful environmental multi-lateral agreements like the Basel Convention (1989), the Minimata Convention on Mercury (2013), and the Montreal Protocol (1987), a Global Plastics Treaty needs to be a legally binding instrument that addresses the root of plastic pollution and keeps all materials in a toxic-free closed-loop circular economy. Canada is hosting INC-4 in 2024, the final wave of Global Plastics Treaty meetings, which will finalize the Treaty. Just like the Montreal Protocol signed in Canada, Canada has a historic opportunity to show leadership to end plastic pollution on Earth by 2040.
