A legally binding agreement on plastic pollution – FAQs
From 22-26 February 2021, government officials from around the world will meet in Kenya at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) to discuss the possibility of initiating the development of a global plastic treaty.
Pending the meeting going ahead as planned after disruption caused to many international processes by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the lead up to the meeting our campaigners are advocating for the treaty to be agreed at UNEA.
- Why do we need an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution?
- What is the United Nations Environment Assembly, and what’s happening at its 5th session in February 2021?
- What should a new legally binding agreement on marine plastic pollution address?
- What has happened at UNEA so far?
- How long will it take to get an agreement in place?
- Isn’t there already legislation in place to tackle marine plastic pollution?
- Is EIA trying to ban all plastic?
- Isn’t there a risk that banning plastic could lead to even worse environmental outcomes?
- Big businesses have recently committed to invest large amounts in recycling and ocean clean-ups. What more is needed?
- Some reports state that 90% of plastic polluting the oceans comes from just 10 rivers in Asia and Africa? Wouldn’t it be better to focus on addressing these hotspots?
- What is EIA’s approach to bringing this about?