Australia backs limits on plastic production at global negotiations

Negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Paris this week ended with a decision to develop a draft treaty text.

Australia played a leading role at the second International Negotiating Committee (INC-2) meeting in supporting the inclusion of binding measures to limit plastic production in the ‘zero draft’ treaty, that will be considered at the next meeting to be held in Kenya in November.

Plastic pollution is a growing global crisis, impacting marine ecosystems, the broader environment, human health, climate and the rights of indigenous peoples. Without concerted global action, the volume of plastic entering the oceans is projected to triple due to rapidly increasing plastics production.

The UN Environment Programme estimates that emissions from plastic production, use and disposal could account for 15 per cent of the global total by 2050.

Ocean conservationists are glad that negotiations for a global plastics treaty are moving forward and hope the draft treaty text will include ambitious elements to limit plastic production and offer financial assistance critical for Small Island Developing States in the Pacific region.

Australian Marine Conservation Society Plastics Campaign Manager Shane Cucow said:“Today we are one step closer to a historic agreement to end ocean plastic pollution. This treaty is our one chance to secure the global action needed to stop the flow of plastic into our oceans.

“Australia was one of many nations to support the inclusion of binding measures to limit plastic production in the draft treaty, which includes options such as global targets to bring plastic use down to sustainable levels.

“Despite mammoth investments in waste management, just nine per cent of plastic is recycled globally. It is clear that we have already exceeded planetary boundaries for the volume of plastic that can safely be managed. We cannot recycle our way out of this crisis.”

Cucow said it was also pleasing to see broad levels of support for developing a register of problematic single-use plastics, hazardous chemicals and hard to recycle polymers that should be eliminated on a global scale.

In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted resolution 5/14 titled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an International Legally Binding Instrument” that began the process to negotiate a new global plastics treaty by the end of 2024.

For more information, visit: www.marineconservation.org.au