The United Nations agreed on Wednesday to begin negotiations on a world-first treaty on plastic pollution.
Nearly 200 nations at the UN Environment Assembly unanimously agreed to create an intergovernmental committee to negotiate and finalize a legally binding plastics treaty.
The assembly hall erupted into cheers and applause as Espen Barthe Eide declared the resolution passed with a strike of the gavel.
We are making history. Eide, who is Norway's climate and environment minister, said that you should be proud.
The Negotiators have been given a broad mandate to target plastic trash in all its forms, not just bottles and straws in the ocean.
The commitment to take united action on the plastic crisis was described as the most important environmental decision by supporters.
Marco Lambertini from WWF said that they stand at a crossroad in history when ambitious decisions are taken to prevent plastic pollution.
The broad treaty framework approved by nations does not spell out specific policies, with particulars to be negotiated later.
The life cycle of plastic is a key demand of nations, businesses and environment groups and could for the first time introduce new rules on the production of new plastic.
It allows for the negotiation of new rules around the design of plastic products, which are made from oil and gas, to make recycling easier, encourage sustainable use, and spur better waste disposal.
The entire life cycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to disposal, creates pollution that is harmful to people and the planet.
The mandate allows for binding and voluntary measures, the setting of global targets and obligations, the development of national action plans, and mechanisms for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
Financial assistance is called for to help poorer countries take action.
Governments have been under pressure to unite behind a global response to the crisis as the amount of plastic trash entering the oceans is predicted to triple by 2040.
The rate of plastic production is expected to double within two decades, according to the UN.
Eide called it an epidemic of plastic trash because less than 10 percent is recycled.
Garbage trucks dump plastic into the sea every minute.
Sea birds, whales and other marine animals are at risk of being harmed by large pieces of plastic. Particles of plastic can enter the food chain, eventually joining the human diet.
The broad scope given to negotiators is good news for the environment groups, but they are not sure of the strength of the treaty.
The second half of the year will see the first round of negotiations.
Big corporations are in favor of a treaty that will create a level playing field for competition.
This is a landmark decision by UN member states. A legally binding treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastic will make a dramatic difference in the fight against plastic pollution, according to Richard Slater, chief research and development officer at British consumer goods group.
Big plastic makers warned that banning certain materials would cause supply chain disruptions and underscored the importance of plastic in construction, medicine and other vital industries.
Agence France-Presse
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