World leaders, environment ministers, and other delegates from 175 nations approved a historic resolution to abolish plastic waste and construct an international legally binding pact by the end of 2024 at the United Nations Environment Assembly, which took place in Nairobi on Wednesday. According to a United Nations study, this historic resolution addresses the “whole lifetime of plastic,” from manufacturing to design to disposal.
A standing ovation from #UNEA5 delegates after the resolution on plastic pollution passes.
"The most important environmental deal since the Paris accord." – @andersen_inger #BeatPlasticPollution pic.twitter.com/zpsgVliraZ
— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) March 2, 2022
Furthermore, according to The Guardian, nearly 7 billion tonnes of the predicted 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic created between 1950 and 2017 were deemed garbage. Approximately 75% of this rubbish is disposed of in landfills or accumulates in terrestrial and aquatic places and ecosystems.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres refers to it as the “most important environmental deal.”
In addition, Espen Barth Eide, the Assembly’s President and Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, stated, “Against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) shows multilateral cooperation at its best.” According to a news release from the UN Environment Programme, he went on to remark that plastic pollution has become an epidemic, and he feels that “with today’s resolution, we are officially on track towards a treatment.”
“#BeatPlasticPollution is a major step forward in our efforts to make peace with nature,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres tweeted, describing the agreement as to the most important environmental accord since the Paris Agreement.
Today's adoption by 175 countries of a landmark resolution to #BeatPlasticPollution is a major step forward in our efforts to make peace with nature.
This is the most important environmental deal since the #ParisAgreement.https://t.co/7tCqcxdNji
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 3, 2022
Furthermore, UN Environment Program Director Inger Andersen tweeted, “We just gavelled the resolution paving the way for global action to #BeatPlasticPollution.”
Bravo!! At #UNEA5 we have just gavelled the resolution paving the way for global action to #BeatPlasticPollution. The most important environmental deal since the Paris accord. The work starts now! Huge congratulations to Member States. pic.twitter.com/SyE8aBhMlP
— Inger Andersen (@andersen_inger) March 2, 2022
The resolution establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) based on three initial draught agreements from diverse nations, with the purpose of finalizing a draught legally binding accord by the end of 2024.
