NAIROBI, Kenya: Efforts to forge a groundbreaking treaty addressing global plastic pollution took a significant step forward on Monday in Nairobi as representatives from the majority of the world’s nations, along with petrochemical companies, environmentalists, and other stakeholders impacted by pollution, gathered for the first-time discussions on draft language.
This marks the third meeting in a compressed five-meeting schedule, aiming to conclude negotiations by the end of the next year.
The power dynamics and stances revealed in the initial talks in Paris and Punta del Este, Uruguay, reflect parallels with international climate negotiations. Notably, many of the involved parties are the same, given that plastic production is closely tied to crude oil and natural gas, thus providing oil-producing countries and companies with a substantial stake in any potential treaty.
After the last meeting in Paris in June, global negotiators agreed to produce the initial text of the treaty before reconvening in Nairobi. The draft, released in early September, falls under the purview of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, tasked with formulating the world’s first international, legally binding treaty addressing plastic pollution on both land and at sea.
Nairobi holds significance as the host for this crucial third session, given that Kenya has emerged as a global leader in combating plastic pollution. In a groundbreaking move in 2017, Kenya banned the manufacture, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags, imposing fines and potential imprisonment for lawbreakers. Subsequently, the country extended the ban on single-use plastic items like cutlery, straws, and PET bottles in protected areas. Kenya’s role in environmental advocacy is underscored by hosting the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters and generating over 70% of its electricity from renewable sources.
This month, church leaders across Africa, through the charity Tearfund, issued an open letter, emphasizing the continent’s struggle with “mountains of plastic pollution.” They urged delegates to boldly advocate for a treaty that brings about meaningful change for Africa’s most vulnerable communities.
