Vancouver — The United Nations Environment Assembly announced today the outcome of the UNEA 5.2 meeting adopting a mandate to open negotiations for a legally binding global plastics treaty that addresses the whole life cycle of plastic pollution in the environment, with negotiations opening later this year. 

In response to today’s announcement, Sarah King, Head of Oceans and Plastics Campaign at Greenpeace Canada, said: 

“Agreement to negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty is the pivotal moment in the plastic pollution crisis that millions of people around the world have been waiting for. The mandate to consider the full lifecycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to disposal, means that global governments have the opportunity to actually stop waste and pollution before it’s created. This move sends a strong signal to big oil and big brands that the time is now to think beyond plastic and switch their business models to refill and reuse, instead of marketing the recycling myth and false zero waste solutions like so-called advanced recycling. Until a strong global treaty is signed that prioritizes reduction and reuse, Greenpeace and its allies will keep pushing for the plastic free future our planet deserves.

While Canada has shown leadership in driving the need for a Global Plastics Treaty, it’s now up to Minister Guilbeault to ensure that overall plastic reduction and scaling of alternative reuse-refill systems are the priorities globally and here at home. We urgently need to move away from unnecessary plastics in all their forms and centre justice in the transition to the zero plastic waste economy the federal government has set out to achieve.  Continuing to drive a plastics economy agenda that perpetuates our broken, fossil fuel dependent system will only keep us stuck in this massive waste, pollution and climate crises triangle.” 

ENDS

Media contacts:

Brandon Wei, Communications officer, Greenpeace Canada

[email protected], +1 778 772-6138

Sarah King, Head of Oceans & Plastics campaign, Greenpeace Canada

[email protected], +1 778 227-6458