Global Plastics Treaty INC-4 Negotiations

From 23 to 29 April, government representatives from across the world will gather in Canada for the next round of negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty.

Robust, legally-binding commitments at a global level will be crucial for delivering comprehensive and coordinated long-term solutions to stop plastic pollution. It is imperative that the Treaty at the very least is built on solid legal foundations and that more time is provided to develop the Treaty text through formal intersessional work conducted on a transparent and inclusive basis.

Overall, the Treaty must reduce the global production of plastics. As part of this it should:

• Cover the full life cycle of plastics, from extraction of raw materials to waste management;
• Deliver a global, legally-binding target to reduce plastics production;
• Require the protection of the health of people and the environment, as well as human rights;
• Halt the construction of new or expanded plastics production facilities; and
• Require financial flows to be aligned with its objectives.

The world needs more than just a plastics recycling treaty — we must reduce the global production of plastic.