New York, September 20, 2024 – Over 160 organizations are calling for a strong Global Plastics Treaty that can effectively reduce plastic production, as world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Climate Week.
The group expressed particular concern about the exclusion of civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and some members of high-ambition Member States from the Global South in the back-to-back high-level meetings leading up to the fifth round of plastic treaty negotiations (INC-5). This lack of inclusivity raises questions about transparency, and could hinder the development of a truly effective and equitable plastics treaty.
In a letter to Heads of State and Ministers, the organizations emphasized the need for a treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including substantial reductions in virgin plastic production. They warned that a treaty without mandatory targets to reduce production would allow plastic producers to continue and increase their operations.
The groups highlighted the negative impacts of plastic production on climate change and human health. Plastic production is projected to consume up to one-third of the remaining carbon budget by 2050, surpassing other sectors. Additionally, Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities living near production sites are disproportionately affected by toxic exposure.
The letter called on Ministers to deliver supply-side rules to control and reduce production by the end of the negotiations and to include a global production reduction target with clear, mandatory pathways for each country. Civil society and Indigenous Peoples representatives stressed the importance of keeping production in the treaty, urging world leaders to take immediate action.
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