Nations continue negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution
International talks—known as INC-5— mark key moment in curbing the crisis
Every single day, plastic waste is discarded into nature at an alarming rate, harming wildlife, habitats, and communities in the process. Without swift and meaningful action to curb the plastic pollution crisis, global plastic pollution will double and plastic leakage into the ocean will triple today’s levels within only 15 years.
International leaders are meeting now to continue development of a new set of legally binding and equitable global agreements that define tangible steps and a timeline necessary to change how we produce and consume high-risk plastic.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution—known as INC-5—is a critical moment to prevent irreversible economic, health, and environmental damage from plastic pollution.
WWF is advocating for the following outcomes from the negotiations:
Global bans on the most harmful and avoidable high risk plastic products.
Global product design requirements that ensure the remaining products can be easily and safely reused and recycled.
A strong financial mechanism to support a just transition, particularly in the Global South.
Together we can put in place a strong plastic pollution treaty by the end of 2024.
There’s overwhelming support for efforts to reduce plastic pollution, even among major plastic-production countries. The majority of Americans (85%) think that plastic waste pollution is a serious and concerning problem that requires immediate political action to solve.
The unique potential of a global, United Nations-led treaty is to hold all countries to a high common standard on plastic consumption and create a clear path toward a future free from plastic pollution. This will create a level playing field that incentivizes and supports national actions.
