UN creates platform for nations to commit to fight plastic pollution

The United Nations Environment and European Commission jointly hosted an event alongside the UN General Assembly to launch the UN Environment’s Global Plastics Platform to encourage new commitments to reduce plastic pollution. To build on the growing momentum around the plastics agenda, Member States, businesses, the European Commission and UN Environment showcased their initiatives, learned […]

The United Nations Environment and European Commission jointly hosted an event alongside the UN General Assembly to launch the UN Environment’s Global Plastics Platform to encourage new commitments to reduce plastic pollution.

To build on the growing momentum around the plastics agenda, Member States, businesses, the European Commission and UN Environment showcased their initiatives, learned from each other and committed to fight plastic pollution together.

The event offered the opportunity for governments to officially join a ‘Race to the Top’ through the Global Plastics Platform, a network that will encourage new commitments to reduce plastic pollution and explore innovative ways to change the habits of design, production, consumption and disposal of plastics around the world, supporting the transition to a more circular economy.

Many countries across the world made ambitious commitments to beat plastics pollution during the 2018 World Environment Day.

According to the statement, “India announced to ban all single-use plastics by 2022. Plastic bags bans have been announced in Chile, Botswana and Peru, while Nigeria will set up recycling plants across the country, and Brazil will announce a new national plan on plastics while Wales will commit to be the first “refill nation.”

The aim of the Global Plastics Platform is to provide support to countries and cities that made these ambitious commitments, by facilitating the sharing of experiences, the establishment of new policies and inspiration for new commitments, the statement said.

The Head of UN Environment, Erik Solheim, said “The Global Plastics Platform is exactly the kind of initiative we need to bring countries together in the fight against millions of tonnes of plastics that end up in our oceans each year.

“No one can solve the problem of plastic pollution alone, but together we will fuel global change.”