These are tumultuous times, but despite the political fallout from the war in Ukraine, 175 nations came together this week to strike what has been described as “the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord”.
In Nairobi, heads of states, ministers of the environment, and other representatives endorsed a historic resolution by the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), to end plastic pollution. To help achieve that goal, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) agreed to negotiate an International Treaty by 2024.
“Against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil, the UN Environment Assembly shows multilateral cooperation at its best,” said Espen Barth Eide, UNEA-5 president. “Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic. With today’s resolution we are officially on track for a cure.”
Marco Lambertini, the director general of WWF International, praised the agreement but stated that the hard work had only just begun. “World leaders must now show even more resolve in developing and implementing a treaty which addresses our current plastic pollution crisis, and enables an effective transition to a circular economy for plastic.”
Image: Jasmin Sessler
