PLASTICS WASTE
21 countries start group to end plastics pollution by 2040 / Founding members include Germany, UK, France, Canada
 The group seeks to stop plastics pollution a decade before mid-century (Photo: Panthermedia/ead72) |
The majority of the Group of Seven countries have joined with 17 other nations to form the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastics Pollution (https://hactoendplasticpollution.org), which seeks to reach the goal that is its name in less than two decades.
The coalition said the governments of Rwanda and Norway launched the project, and charter members include G7 nations Canada, France, Germany, and the UK along with Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, South Korea, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Espen Barth-Eide, Norway’s climate and environment minister and co-chair of the coalition, said, “We took the initiative to form a group of ambitious countries to work for a truly effective global treaty that will establish common global rules, turn off the tap and end plastic pollution by 2040.”
Related: Plastic waste volumes could nearly triple by 2060 – OECD study
In a tweet, WWF Africa commended the countries that have formed the coalition, “which will work to ensure the world’s first ever plastic pollution treaty includes global regulations for the production, design and disposal of plastic”.
The coalition said its members will meet in New York City during the upcoming UN General Assembly set to begin 13 September 2022 to discuss next steps in the coalition’s work. It added that the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is scheduled to start on 28 November in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
The coalition said the governments of Rwanda and Norway launched the project, and charter members include G7 nations Canada, France, Germany, and the UK along with Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, South Korea, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Espen Barth-Eide, Norway’s climate and environment minister and co-chair of the coalition, said, “We took the initiative to form a group of ambitious countries to work for a truly effective global treaty that will establish common global rules, turn off the tap and end plastic pollution by 2040.”
Related: Plastic waste volumes could nearly triple by 2060 – OECD study
In a tweet, WWF Africa commended the countries that have formed the coalition, “which will work to ensure the world’s first ever plastic pollution treaty includes global regulations for the production, design and disposal of plastic”.
The coalition said its members will meet in New York City during the upcoming UN General Assembly set to begin 13 September 2022 to discuss next steps in the coalition’s work. It added that the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is scheduled to start on 28 November in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Historic global waste pact spawns initiative
The coalition said its formation began following the UN Environment Assembly‘s (UNEA) decision in March 2022 to start talks on an international, legally binding instrument to end plastics pollution (see Plasteurope.com of 07.03.2022). The first draft of the UN agreement is expected by the end of 2024.
Goals listed on the coalition’s website include restraining plastics consumption and production to sustainable levels, enabling a circular economy for plastics that protects the environment and human health, achieving environmentally sound management and recycling of plastics waste, and eliminating problematic plastics, including by bans and restrictions.
Related: Plastics can have smaller carbon footprint than alternatives – McKinsey study
Goals listed on the coalition’s website include restraining plastics consumption and production to sustainable levels, enabling a circular economy for plastics that protects the environment and human health, achieving environmentally sound management and recycling of plastics waste, and eliminating problematic plastics, including by bans and restrictions.
Related: Plastics can have smaller carbon footprint than alternatives – McKinsey study
29.08.2022 Plasteurope.com [251019-0]
Published on 29.08.2022
German version of this article...