WWF-Australia has called on Australia and other nations to pursue every available pathway to secure a global treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis, on the eve of final negotiations in Geneva.
Representatives from more than 175 countries will meet for INC-5.2 from 5-14 August in a last effort to agree on legally-binding rules to reduce plastic production and consumption and ban the most polluting plastic products.
The treaty is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a global solution to this worsening crisis. Unless governments agree on an ambitious treaty, plastic pollution is likely to triple by 2040.
Previous attempts to finalise a treaty have ended in deadlock, with a small minority of countries refusing to accept the science and obstructing meaningful progress.
WWF-Australia's Chief Regenerative Officer, Nicole Forrester urged Australia to play a leadership role at these final negotiations.
"Australia has an opportunity to lead with integrity and ambition to secure a treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis. If we're serious about regenerating nature, we must shift to a circular economy where plastic stays in use and out of the environment. Cutting plastic pollution will protect ecosystems, empower communities and help build a future where people and nature thrive together," said Ms Forrester.
WWF-Australia's No Plastic in Nature Policy Manager, Malene Hand said Australia and other countries should pursue all diplomatic pathways to deliver a strong treaty, including voting on a new treaty text or forming a majority coalition of ambitious countries to adopt the treaty outside of the INC process.
"Australia and the ambitious majority must forge their own path to a strong, binding treaty. The majority of countries want to take action. This is their last chance to deliver a treaty that protects people and nature," said Ms Hand.
"Otherwise they risk going home with a weak, toothless treaty that will only lock in harm for generations to come."
Negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty are well into over-time and every day that goes by, another 30,000 tonnes of plastic pours into our oceans.
Australia has serious skin in the game, as the second highest generator of single-use plastic per person in the world. An estimated 140,000 tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the Australian environment annually.
Failure to secure a strong treaty at INC-5.2 will only make the job of addressing this crisis more difficult, costly and dangerous for people all around the world.
WWF's new report with the University of Birmingham,
