International Ministerial Conference to combat marine litter and plastic pollution asks for a binding global treaty

The conference was held in Geneva from the 1st to 2nd of September, both on site and virtually. More than 1000 representatives from 140 countries and numerous non-governmental organisations took part.

More and more countries are campaigning for a globally binding agreement to fight marine litter and plastic waste in the environment. Representatives from the governments of Germany, Ecuador, Ghana and Viet Nam hosted a first International Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution in Geneva to make the case for an agreement of this kind. So far 30 countries have already voiced their commitment in a statement on the basic parameters of such an agreement. The goal is that plastic products worldwide should be produced, used and reused in accordance with the life cycle and circular economy approaches so that as little waste as possible is generated.

Peru and Rwanda also presented a first draft of a UN resolution to pave the way for a binding agreement on marine litter. This draft is intended to serve as the formal basis for the start of negotiations on a global agreement at UN level in February 2022.

According to the representatives of the four host countries Germany, Ecuador, Ghana and Viet Nam, plastic pollution, especially marine litter, is a global challenge that needs to be addressed at international level with an ambitious agreement, ideally a UN convention. Despite progress resulting from improved infrastructure and numerous bans and restrictions on the use of single-use plastics in more than one hundred countries, it is estimated that the amount of waste entering the world’s oceans could almost triple by 2040.

The global and pervasive problem of marine litter not only inflicts major damage on marine ecosystems, but also has a devastating impact on our planet, wildlife and human health.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) identifies plastic pollution as one of three planetary crises – along with climate change and biodiversity loss.

According to the government representatives of the four countries, a global agreement is needed to achieve coordinated action to address the threats posed by marine litter to the seas and oceans. The aim is to provide financial resources for measures to tackle marine litter and create a common framework for action at local, regional, national and international level. The activities are to focus on the entire life cycle of plastics, science-based approaches to monitoring the problem of marine litter and an evaluation of the measures taken.

The Ministerial Conference served to prepare for the second part of the 5th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) next year, where discussions will be concluded on Peru’s and Rwanda’s draft resolution for a binding global agreement and stronger measures against marine litter and microplastics. This can pave the way for a binding agreement like a UN convention. Germany, Ghana, Ecuador, Vietnam and all EU countries support this draft resolution while other countries have already pledged their support.

This agreement could potentially be based on legislation in more than 120 countries that restrict or ban single-use plastics. In Africa, for example, 34 of 54 nations have introduced bans on single-use plastics. The European Union has also prohibited the use of single-use plastics and exports of unsorted plastic waste.

Twelve million tonnes of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year. Marine animals become entangled in the debris or ingest tiny pieces of plastic, causing injury or death. Specifically, 9 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced over the last 65 years, but of this amount, only 9 percent has been recycled and 12 percent incinerated, which can be an additional source of air pollution. Plastic waste also negatively impacts food safety and quality, human health and coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.