WWF calls for strong action on global plastic pollution treaty at INC-5

As the world grapples with the mounting challenges of environmental degradation, WWF has emphasised the urgent need for a robust and binding global plastic pollution treaty. This call to action comes ahead of the fifth and final Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting (INC-5), scheduled to take place from 25 November to 1 December, where world leaders will finalise discussions on measures to address plastic pollution.

WWF views the treaty as a critical step to reverse what it describes as a "bleak" trajectory in global environmental progress for 2024. The organisation highlights the importance of governments agreeing on mandatory global measures to tackle plastic pollution effectively.

Key measures advocated by WWF

WWF is urging the inclusion of specific, enforceable measures within the treaty:

• Bans and Phase-Outs: Prohibit the most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern to mitigate their environmental impact.
• Mandatory Design Requirements: Ensure products are safe, reusable, and recyclable to reduce waste and promote circularity.
• Clear Funding Mechanisms: Define the financial resources needed and how they will be allocated to support global efforts.
• Progressive Treaty Strengthening: Establish mechanisms to adapt and enhance the treaty over time.

The organisation warns that without these globally mandated actions, projected increases in plastic production by 2050 could contribute significantly to carbon emissions, jeopardising efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Current support and risks

WWF notes that many governments have already voiced support for stronger measures but stresses the need for collective action to fulfil these commitments. It also cautions against diluting the treaty’s core elements, emphasising that weak or voluntary measures would fail to address the issue adequately.

Should consensus prove challenging, WWF advocates for governments to vote on the treaty, ensuring that vital measures are not sidelined.

Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International, said: To protect current and future generations from a world overwhelmed by plastic pollution and the unequal burden it places on the most vulnerable communities, we need binding global rules. Negotiators have the backing of not only scientific evidence, but also a majority of governments, citizens and businesses that a global treaty with legally binding obligations, and not voluntary guidelines, is the only way to end the global plastic pollution crisis. This is absolutely possible. Negotiators must prioritize the most urgent and essential measures so we can get to the heart of the issue - what a strong treaty should include - faster and more impactfully.

Setting the stage for INC-5

In preparation for the negotiations, the INC-5 Chair has released a streamlined “non-paper” text to guide discussions. WWF underscores the need for this document to include stronger language that enforces mandatory actions rather than relying on voluntary initiatives, which have shown limited success in the past three decades.

Eirik Lindebjerg, Global Plastics Policy Lead and Head of Delegation for WWF at INC-5, said: The majority of governments have been calling for the right measures, and at INC-5, they need to turn these words into action by cementing such measures in the treaty text unambiguously. There can be no room for alternative interpretations, borne out of certain governments’ economic self-interests, to take precedence over the health and safety of the world. Those that want a strong treaty must therefore push ahead with one, even if this means not all governments will ratify it, or be ready to take the decision to another forum. A treaty with binding measures supported by the majority of governments will be far more effective than a voluntary-based treaty supported by all governments.

Amplifying voices and global support

Ahead of the INC-5 meeting, WWF is hosting an event titled “Delivering A Treaty that Nature Needs: Powered by Solutions and Shared Ambition” on 24 November. This event will spotlight innovative solutions to plastic pollution, featuring contributions from businesses, scientists, civil society, and voices from the Global South.

A significant highlight will be the delivery of a global petition, signed by millions, calling for a legally binding treaty. The petition will be presented to the INC-5 Chair, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, by young activists from South Korea and poet Nikita Gill, symbolising the collective demand for decisive action against plastic pollution.

The road ahead

WWF remains steadfast in its call for bold and comprehensive measures to combat plastic pollution. The organisation views INC-5 as a pivotal opportunity for governments to demonstrate global leadership and deliver on their promise of a treaty that effectively addresses the plastic crisis.

Visit WWF for more information.