Negotiations for a global treaty to combat plastic pollution commenced in Nairobi, marked by anticipated tensions as 175 countries navigate diverse opinions on the treaty’s content.
Agreed upon last year, the UN treaty aims to address plastic pollution affecting oceans, the atmosphere, and living organisms by 2024.
Despite a consensus on the need for the treaty, significant differences exist on its specifics.
Peru’s Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez, chair of the negotiating committee, emphasized plastic pollution’s direct threat to the environment, human health, and the planet’s delicate balance.
The talks, running from November 13-19, are the first to consider a draft text published in September, outlining policy options.
Approximately 60 “high ambition” nations advocate for binding rules to reduce plastic use, a stance challenged by major plastic-producing economies, such as the United States.
With over 2,000 delegates and environmental advocates participating, the negotiations are poised for intensity as details are hammered out.
Urgency is emphasized, with Kenyan President William Ruto describing plastic pollution as an “existential threat,” urging changes in consumption, production, and waste disposal.
The meeting in Nairobi plays a crucial role in shaping the future of global efforts to combat plastic pollution.