Global Push for plastic Treaty Gains Momentum at UN Ocean Conference
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France‘s initiative, the “Nice Call,” garners support from 95 countries, signaling a pivotal moment in negotiations for a binding agreement to tackle plastic pollution.
A significant stride has been made towards the adoption of an international treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution. On June 10, during the second day of the United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC), nations advocating for a legally binding agreement launched the “Nice Call for an ambitious treatise on plastic.” Spearheaded by France, the host of the third UNOC edition, the declaration has garnered support from 95 countries across all continents. however, the United States and china, the world’s two largest plastic consumers, have not yet joined the initiative.
The “Call of Nice” arrives at a crucial juncture in the negotiation process, preceding a pivotal session scheduled for Geneva from August 5 to 14. This follows a previous diplomatic round in December 2024 in Pusan, South Korea, where the international community failed to reach a consensus due to opposition from a minority of oil-producing nations, led by Saudi Arabia, and China. These nations prefer to limit the treaty’s scope to waste management and oppose any mandatory plastic reduction measures.
Key Statements from the Conference
During a conference in Nice, the Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, along with counterparts from Mexico, Cambodia, Senegal, Tuvalu, and the European environment commissioner, emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic crisis. “We will not give up, it is time to act at the source of the problem in the face of this crisis which threatens our oceans, our environment and our health,” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher. She added, “It is a strong signal that we collectively send to the rest of the world a few weeks before the resumption of negotiations in Geneva.”
“We will not give up, it is time to act at the source of the problem in the face of this crisis which threatens our oceans, our environment and our health”
Understanding the Plastic Pollution Crisis
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the “Nice Call for an ambitious treatise on plastic”?
- It is a declaration initiated by France, urging nations to adopt a legally binding international treaty to combat plastic pollution.
- Which countries are supporting the “Nice Call”?
- As of June 10, 2025, 95 countries from all continents support the declaration, excluding major plastic consumers like the United States and China.
- What are the main obstacles to reaching a global agreement on plastic pollution?
- Opposition from oil-producing countries and major plastic consumers who prefer to limit the treaty’s scope to waste management and oppose mandatory plastic reduction measures.
- When is the next key negotiation session?
- the next decisive session will be held in Geneva from August 5 to 14.
Sources:
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – Plastic Pollution Facts and Solutions
- UN Environment Program (UNEP) – Plastic Pollution
- Statista – Global Plastic Production Since 1950
- our World in Data – Plastic Pollution
- Science.org – Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean
- Condor Ferries – The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Wildlife
- UNEP – our planet is drowning in plastic – we need a circular economy
- EPA – Plastics Material-specific Data
