The Maldives has endorsed a historic resolution at the 5th United Nations (UN) Environment Assembly to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024.
Heads of state, ministers of environment, and other representatives from 175 nations endorsed the resolution, which addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.
The resolution establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which will begin its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing a draft global legally binding agreement by the end of 2024. It is expected to present a legally binding instrument, which would reflect diverse alternatives to address the full lifecycle of plastics, the design of reusable and recyclable products and materials, and the need for enhanced international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building, and scientific and technical cooperation.
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology stated establishing an intergovernmental committee is a huge accomplishment in the work to end plastic pollution.
Furthermore, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen said establishing the committee was the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord. He said plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic and the resolution assures the UN member states are officially on track for a cure.
The UN Environment Assembly concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, with 14 resolutions to strengthen actions for nature to achieve the sustainable development goals. The assembly is made up of the 193 UN member states and convenes every two years to advance global environmental governance.