Historic Moment – UNEP Passes Plastic Pollution Resolution

Last March 2, 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) endorsed a historic resolution that will create an international, legally binding agreement to address the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.

Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director, said the agreement is “the most important international multilateral environmental deal since the Paris climate accord.”

The resolution establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) which will draft a global, legally binding mandate by 2024. According to Ocean Plastics Leadership Network, key points of the treaty negotiations will include:

• ​​Recognition of waste pickers’ role in plastic clean-up

• Microplastics’ contribution to plastic pollution

• Language pertaining to the role of design and the full life cycle of plastics

The agreement was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause by the crowd. US representative, Monica Medina, fought back tears while sharing her statement: “This is only the end of the beginning, we have a lot of work ahead of us. But it is the beginning of the end of the scourge of plastic waste for this planet… I think we will look back on this as a day for our children and grandchildren.”

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) was attended by heads of state, ministers of environment, and representatives from 175 nations.

Plastic Credit Exchange is proud to have been part of the signatories of this momentous resolution.

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