Heads of State, environment ministers and other representatives from 175 nations, endorsed a historic resolution to end plastic pollution, and forge an international legally binding agreement, by the end of 2024. The resolution, based on three initial draft resolutions from various nations, establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) which will begin its work this year. The first global plastic pollution treaty was described as the most significant environmental pact since the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Member states talked for more than a week in Nairobi to agree on a draft agreement to curb growing plastic pollution, an environmental crisis that stretches from ocean trenches to mountaintops.

“Today marks a triumph by planet earth over single-use plastics. This is the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord. It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

According to the agency, plastic pollution soared from two million tonnes in 1950, to 348 million tonnes in 2017, becoming a global industry valued at $522.6 billion. It is expected to double in capacity, by 2040.

“Plastic pollution has turned into an epidemic. With today’s resolution, we are officially on the path to healing”, said Espen Barth Eide, president of Unea (United Nations Environment Assembly).

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Source: United Nations