The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) joins 234 civil society and rightsholder groups in welcoming the renewed commitment and leadership by more than 90 countries to forge a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution to protect human health and the environment.
The Nice Wake-up Call reflects significant political support for a Global Plastics Treaty which addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, building on the growing political momentum that emerged at INC-5.1 in Busan last year.
The Declaration highlights essential ingredients for an effective treaty, from dealing with plastic production to ensuring adequate financing.
EIA Ocean Campaign Lead Christina Dixon said: “EIA enthusiastically supports the governments sending this clear political signal and show of solidarity ahead of the critical last round of negotiations in August.
“With the future health of the planet, its oceans and inhabitants at stake, this is not just a wake-up call, it’s an emergency siren.”
EIA investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil. It works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, bycatch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Finally, it works to avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements that tackle short-lived climate super-pollutants, including ozone-depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons and methane, and advocating corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels. It uses its findings in hard-hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improved governance and more effective enforcement. Its field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and it forms partnerships with local groups and activists and support their work through hands-on training.