Advancing a Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution: Current Status and Challenges

2025/06/26 by Margaret Spring, Cindy Matuch · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Recycling and Waste Management Techniques #Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

paper · pdf · doi:10.55476/001c.141267

openalex publication_date 2025/06/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the current status of an international legally-binding instrument to address plastic pollution. It covers developments from the start of discussions at the United Nations Environment Assembly through the formation of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in 2022, which has so far held five meetings through the end of 2024. The chapter lays out the foundations for the instrument in the decision taken at UNEA 5.2 and considers critical areas that have been discussed among UN members and have shaped the evolution of the current “Chair’s Text” which will be considered further at the next meeting of the INC in 2025. Finally, it provides a short analysis of the major areas of alignment and disjunct that arose during the last negotiating meeting, which may shape the final negotiations in 2025.

Discussions

• In v. 7 of the JMT/CTEWC book series, Margaret Spring & Cindy Matuch review UNEA negotiations on an International Legally-Binding Instrument to Address Plastic Pollution. See "Advancing a Global Treat [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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• Scientists’ Coalition perspectives on articles of the Chair’s text