The Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution

On June 10, the second day of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), a new declaration titled “The Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution” was launched by countries advocating for a legally binding agreement.

Key Highlights:

• Initiator: France, as the host of UNOC-3, initiated the declaration.
• Support: It has garnered support from 95 countries across all continents.
• Notable Absentees: The United States and China, the world’s two largest plastic consumers, are not among the signatories.
• India’s Stance: Despite India’s Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh, stating that the country advocates for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty at UNOC-3, India is not a signatory to “The Nice Call.”
• Context: This initiative follows the failure of countries to reach an agreement on a legally binding plastics treaty in December 2024.
• Five Crucial Elements for an Effective Global Plastics Treaty (as outlined by Pannier-Runacher):
  • A global target to reduce primary production of plastic polymers worldwide.
  • Phasing out the most problematic plastic products and associated chemicals of concern.
  • Improving the design of plastic products.
  • Effective means of implementation and finance that is commensurate with the ambition and guided by the “polluter pays” principle.
  • An effective treaty that can evolve over time.