The European Commission is participating in crucial negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and effective agreement to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution.
According to UNEP data from 2021, global plastic production has reached a staggering 400 million tons per year. However, only 12% is incinerated, and only 9% is recycled, leaving a substantial amount of plastic waste to contaminate the environment, including oceans and rivers.
Because of these alarming statistics, the EU is advocating for a treaty that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal, and includes measures to phase out certain plastic products that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment. The EU will also continue advocating for effective provisions on the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.
Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, will attend the Ministerial Segment of the negotiations on 12 August, where she will emphasise the need for global cooperation to curb plastic pollution.
“If business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060. The EU remains firmly committed to finding a global solution to curb plastic pollution and we expect all sides to be flexible and open in the negotiations.
We need to agree on effective global policies benefitting both people and the planet.”
The negotiations, which run until August 14, follow a previous session in December 2024 that made significant progress towards a deal but ultimately failed to reach an agreement.