Second part of the Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution (INC-5.2)

IUCN bridges global policy with local action, helping countries translate environmental treaty commitments into actionable strategies. Through plastics initiatives, IUCN helps governments assess policy gaps and align national plans with treaty provisions while convening dialogues between government, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples, and communities to co-design inclusive and nature-positive solutions. 

According to the 2022 OECD Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060, the amount of plastic waste produced globally is on track to almost triple by 2060, with around half ending up in landfills and less than a fifth recycled. In the absence of ambitious, co-ordinated and global policy action – the global Plastics Treaty, leakage of plastics into rivers and oceans would grow by one-third, from 6 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020 to more than 9 Mt in 2040, leading to further adverse consequences for humanity and human health and the environment, ecosystems and climate.

Another recently published OECD report on Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040 quantifies the main drivers of plastics production and use, waste and pollution and provides projections of the plastics lifecycle, waste generation and treatment, as well as related leakage to the environment. It states that business as usual “is unsustainable” and that “stringent policies to curb production and demand (limiting total plastics use to 508 Mt in 2040), combined with policies to enhance recycling rates (quadrupling to 42%), can ensure that all growth in plastics use is met through recycled plastics rather than through primary production”.

IUCN’s objectives for the INC are three-fold:

1. Strategically influence the negotiations towards the adoption of an ambitious MEA on Plastics Pollution, including in the Marine Environment, that considers biodiversity and ecosystems impacts, by providing legal text-based input.
2. Position and secure IUCN’s role as key player in the implementation of the Treaty once it is adopted.
3. Increase IUCN’s influence, visibility, and impact whilst promoting and advancing IUCN’s policy and projects (AFRIPAC, EPPIC, IslandPlas, Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap, Pacific Islands plastics work, and previous IUCN plastics work around the globe) as well as its Programme – Nature 2030.

IUCN emphasises addressing connections between plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and human health as intertwined issues. Embedding nature and people as allies is critical for achieving multilateral environmental goals. IUCN advocates comprehensive approaches linking pollution treaties and MEAs through collaborative work. Urgent needs include interconnectivity, cooperation, and regime convergence to address cross-cutting issues of human rights, trade and just transitions for a circular economy, biodiversity, and health. 

Based on two IUCN Resolutions (019 - Stopping the global plastic pollution crisis in marine environments by 2030, and 069 - Eliminate plastic pollution in protected areas, with priority action on single-use plastic products), and aligned with CBD COP 16 decisions, Global Biodiversity Framework Targets (GBF), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), SDGs, and IUCN’s policy and project experience, a future Plastics Treaty must be science-based and include: 

1. Full plastics lifecycle coverage - from extraction through production, reuse, recycling to waste management and end-of-life, per UNEA Resolution 5/14.
2. Biodiversity protection reference - safeguarding ecosystems from current and future plastic pollution as standalone article or combined with Health article using One Health approach.
3. International cooperation clause - coordination between treaty governance and other MEAs (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions, Global Biodiversity Framework) plus relevant organizations like WHO, WTO, ILO, OHCHR, and scientific institutions.

The inclusion of biodiversity-specific articles and terms would advance efforts to break the silos and support a common approach under different agreements and organizations and thus achieve a better outcome for nature, people and to the planet.  

Within the future Plastics Treaty, IUCN advocates for: 

• Biodiversity protection reference as standalone article or combined with Article 19 on Health following a biodiversity and health linked approach (One Health). 
• Specific language in Article 12 on “Capacity Building, Technical Assistance and Technology Transfer, including on “International Cooperation” between the treaty's governance body and related MEAs (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions, GBF, BBNJ) 

IUCN and its World Commission on Environmental Law would suggest treaty language that is in keeping with previous proposals made by Members of the INC process and with elements of existing MEAs, their subsequently adopted Conference of the Parties decisions and implementing frameworks.  

Urgently, there is a need for interconnectivity, cooperation, and regime convergence, to address issues that are cross-cutting with a future Plastics Treaty for maximum effect. Furthermore, doing this work requires significant support. It should be noted that the GBF and BBNJ act as funding catalysts, as will the future Plastics Treaty, bridging climate/biodiversity finance with chemicals/waste funding. IUCN supports countries in identifying innovative financing and aligning treaty implementation requirements.  

With extensive policy, technical, and biodiversity knowledge, and regional plastic pollution expertise, IUCN will continue supporting governments for the future Plastics Treaty and on the path to its implementation. IUCN future actions will include: supporting the development of national and-sub national planning instruments; providing technical advice; tailoring guidance and tools to local context (i.e. translating into local languages); building capacity, supporting legal reform, and convening cross-ministerial dialogues for improved communication as the world moves toward a cleaner, healthier world toward the INC5.2 negotiations in Geneva in August, and beyond.

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More information

• IUCN's INC Policy page
• IUCN's Plastic Pollution Issues Brief (2024)
• IUCN's portfolio of plastics pollution solution projects:
  • AFRIPAC
  • EPPIC
  • IslandPlas
  • Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap
  • Pacific Islands plastics work
  • Previous IUCN plastics work around the globe