A Global Solution to a Global Problem
175 countries are currently negotiating a legally-binding, international treaty on plastic pollution that could change the world. It’s a big deal.
But at the same time, the question remains whether this treaty will be strong enough, or if certain countries or companies will derail the progress that could be achieved.
Some countries and companies say they want an ambitious treaty, but when you actually look into the details, they aren’t pushing for meaningful solutions.
For example, the US wants the “legally-binding” part of the treaty to be that each nation has a plan of action. But, that’s like letting students choose their own homework and grade it too.
Meanwhile, chemical and plastics corporations are actively lobbying for weaker treaty terms. At first, they were opposed to plastic regulations. But that hurt their reputation and their bottom line. So now, they’re playing along, making sustainability claims and trying to weaken solutions from the inside. They keep pushing for weaker, flexible treaty terms that focus on waste management instead of reducing plastic at the source.
We can’t expect the companies that created the problem to help solve it. And we can’t let this treaty leave room for industry greenwashing and lack of real progress.
We know the plastics problem is major. We’re up against something bigger than any one individual or organization or legislator or business leader can take on alone.
So we’re teaming up with allies and organizations around the world to demand a strong treaty that ambitiously tackles plastic pollution.
We need governments worldwide to step up to this historic opportunity by listening to the people. This is going to be a heavy lift. Big Oil and Big Plastic won’t go quietly. But we’re ready to rally, alongside friends from around the globe. Are you?
No matter how you’re tackling the plastics problem, we need you.
Learn more
VIDEO: The U.N. is Negotiating a Treaty that Could Solve the Plastic Problem. Here’s What You Need to Know.
VIDEO (Spanish subtitles): La ONU está negociando un tratado que podría resolver el problema del plástico. Aquí todo lo que debes saber.
VIDÉO (French subtitles): L’ONU négocie un traité qui pourrait résoudre le probème du plastique. Voici ce qu’il faut savoir.
VÍDEO (Portuguese subtitles): A ONU está negociando um tratado que pode resolver o problema do plástico. Aqui está o que você precisa saber.
VIDEO (Swahili subtitles): Mkataba huu wa majadiliano una uwezo wa kutatua tatizo la taka plastiki. Haya ndiyo unayotakiwa kuyajua.
فيديو (Arabic subtitles): الأمم المتحدة تتفاوض بشأن معاهدة يمكن أن تحل مشكلة البلاستيك. إليك ما تحتاج إلى معرفته.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Do international treaties really work?
Yes, legally-binding treaties specifically can really work, because there are consequences if a country doesn’t live up to their commitments. Take the Montreal Protocol, which was finalized in 1987 and is helping Earth’s ozone layer recover.
2. What is the timeline for this treaty?
In March 2022, at the United Nations Environment Assembly, world leaders agreed to develop a binding treaty to address plastic pollution. Negotiations of the treaty terms began in November 2022 at INC-1 in Uruguay, and will continue as delegates meet periodically at INC sessions around the world until 2024. INC-2 will be held in May and June 2023, in France.
