Ocean reports

Explore urgent strategies to deliver a strong global plastics treaty and end plastic pollution after stalled UN negotiations.

The UK's plastic waste export system is fundamentally failing and, without immediate political intervention, the environmental, social and economic consequences will only deepen.

At the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in 2022, the world celebrated as resolution 5/14 was adopted, convening an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. Since that high point, however, the process has steadily derailed. As we reflect on where we are and how to get where we need to be, in this briefing EIA experts outline the essential conditions for a successful resolution of the negotiations and recommendations for urgent course correction.

A distinct and harmful source of plastic pollution requiring dedicated language in the ILBI. The Global Plastics Treaty must include legally binding obligations on each Party to prevent, mitigate and remediate the impacts and occurrence of plastic abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing and aquaculture gear (ALDFG) across its full lifecycle.

In this briefing, we outline our final thoughts on the INC process, focusing on the strategic, political and technical considerations for landing an effective deal in Geneva.

The global plastic waste trade has become a conduit for financial crime, with criminals and organised crime groups exploiting regulatory loopholes to engage in fraud, bribery and money laundering under the guise of recycling.