Tell Global Leaders: No Plastic in Nature

On November 25, 2024, governments will come together in Busan, Republic of Korea, for the fifth and last round of negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution. This treaty is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a global solution to this worsening global crisis. Unless governments agree on an ambitious and fair treaty with legally binding global rules, plastic pollution is likely to triple by 2040, accumulating in our food and water and exacerbating the risk of flooding.

Dear UN Member States/Global Leaders,

Every global issue is unique and requires a tailor-made response. But that does not mean that the wheel must be continuously reinvented.

For a successful and effective global treaty, we recommend negotiators adopt an evidence-based approach, with a view to better understanding how past success might be replicated and past mistakes avoided. At minimum, the treaty in its final draft should follow these recommendations.

1. Create common global legally binding rules to regulate the production, consumption, and management of plastic.

2.Establish global bans on the most harmful plastic products.

3. Develop global design requirements to ensure all plastic can be easily and safely reused and/or recycled.

4. Provide sufficient technical and financial support to all countries, specifically low- and middle-income countries, to effectively implement all measures in the treaty.

5. Meaningfully engage communities who are being most impacted, including informal workers and indigenous peoples.