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Global Plastics Treaty Talks Wrap: What Happened and What's Ahead

Summary

Negotiators concluded the second session of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) on a new Global Plastics Treaty. The aim of the treaty is to address the global plastics waste crisis and reduce plastic pollution. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) played a significant role, facilitating discussions between government ministers, business executives, scientific associations, and youth organizations. Erin Simon, WWF's VP for plastic waste and business, emphasized the need for a global agreement to tackle the plastic crisis. The treaty, unlike most global agreements, is expected to be implemented within three years. INC-2 focused on finalizing procedural matters and identifying high-risk plastics that are likely to become pollution. Simon called for a comprehensive approach, considering the entire lifecycle of plastics and its interconnectedness with climate change and biodiversity loss. Over 100 large companies, including Henkel, Mars, Target, Unilever, and Walmart, have joined a coalition in support of the treaty. The next round of negotiations, INC-3, is scheduled for November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

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