More than 11 million metric tons of plastic are flowing into the ocean each year. Once it is there, it’s almost impossible to remove. And it continues to break down. Macroplastics become microplastics, and microplastics become nanoplastics.
It’s not good for people, or the planet.
It’s been estimated that 90% of all seabirds ingest plastic at some point in their lives. Starting as chicks.
More than half the world’s marine mammal species, including dolphins, whales and seals, have been found to have eaten plastic. As have all species of sea turtles.
Not all of them die, but all of them suffer from it.
It’s not just the plastic they eat. Entanglement, smothering and slow poisoning from leached chemicals, all cause sickness, weakness, injury, and death.
Plastic in the ocean is pervasive and increasing.
The time has come to end it.
It needs a global solution.
This year, UN members are negotiating a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution.
Their governments have agreed that we need a legally-binding, international treaty and are aiming to have it in place by the end of 2024.
But the scope, the level of ambition, and nature of commitments countries will make all remain to be negotiated and will be determined in the next few months.
Now is the time to be bold. To be ambitious.
To adopt a treaty that establishes the global rules and regulations that will credibly end plastic pollution.
In March 2022, UN Member States agreed on a mandate to negotiate a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution.
This year, the framework is being negotiated throughout a series of meetings across the globe, with the aim of having it in place by the end of 2024.
While there was strong support shown for an ambitious global plastics treaty, including from New Zealand, at the first meeting at the end of 2022, the next stage of negotiations will be more challenging.
Although in the minority, there are some powerful opponents of global rules and standards, potentially weakening obligations on countries to take action.
The New Zealand Government needs to commit to helping deliver a truly ambitious treaty with effective global measures.
Despite the exponential growth in voluntary initiatives and national regulations to tackle plastic pollution, there is no sign that leakage rates are slowing. In order to effectively deal with the plastic crisis, the world needs common rules and standards that address plastic throughout its entire lifecycle.
What does an effective Global Plastics Treaty need to contain?
Read WWF’s report "Towards a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution: Global rules to solve a global problem"