As the final meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Open Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics (AHEG) concluded today, a large number of experts and member states from all regions of the world called for a new global agreement on plastic pollution and for negotiations to start immediately.

“It is now evident that a new global agreement is the only viable option for solving this problem on a global scale” said Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF’s Global Plastics Policy Manager.

The UN Expert Group was mandated by the UN Environment Assembly and commenced its work in 2018.  After four meetings, the group has examined and taken stock of all existing efforts to solve the plastic pollution problem at a global scale and elaborated on potential response options. Over the last week, a vast majority of the member states and experts in the meeting expressed a strong preference for the negotiations of a new binding global agreement to start. It was emphasised by many that the development of a new global agreement will be complementary to strengthening national action and improvement of existing instruments.

“We need an ambitious and effective new agreement that sets clear global and national reduction targets. We encourage all governments and stakeholders to translate the growing support into action and immediately engage in the development of the elements of a new global agreement. The already devastating impacts of marine plastic pollution on nature and humans at this moment are but a fraction of the possible havoc that this problem may cause in the future, unless urgent action is taken and almost 2 million people around the world support this call to action“, said Eirik Lindebjerg.

The meeting report will now be handed to the Member States of the UN Environment Assembly for consideration and further decisions. WWF is calling on all states to develop the elements of a global agreement and for the urgent adoption of a formal negotiations mandate.