No plastic in nature

A turtle with its face in plastic.

In March 2022, UN Member States agreed to negotiate a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. This was a historic decision, and a major leap towards a plastic free ocean for all. Now, this framework will be negotiated throughout a series of meetings over the course of the next two years and is expected to be in place by the end of 2024.

WWF urges world's leaders to act strongly and decisively in developing the full content of the treaty by 2024.

Dear UN Member States/Global Leaders,

Every global issue is unique and requires a tailor-made response. But that does not mean that the wheel must be continuously reinvented.

For a successful and effective global treaty, we recommend negotiators adopt an evidence-based approach, with a view to better understanding how past success might be replicated and past mistakes avoided. At minimum, the treaty in its final draft should follow these recommendations.

  1. To make sure States' commitments to tackle the problem are anchored at the highest possible political level, the new global agreement on plastic pollution should be legally binding.
  2. The rules, standards and requirements included in the new treaty should be specific and unambiguous, and they should be applicable to all States parties. The treaty should set a high common standard of action.
  3. The new treaty should set up a mechanism for monitoring progress and evaluating efforts. It should also specify procedures that allow the regime to be gradually strengthened over time.
  4. The new treaty should provide a robust structure for promoting participation and compliance, and for supporting States in their implementation of the treaty's core provisions.
  5. The new treaty should provide a credible roadmap to the long-term goal of plastic free oceans. Negotiators should not allow the overall level of ambition to be determined by the least interested States—must be ambitious.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

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