Opportunity to end plastic pollution wasted

View from distance of Interceptor Barrier 009 in a loop in Kingston Harbour, and trash within near end, plus clear water and boats without. — *Interceptor Barrier 009 deployed by The Ocean Cleanup and trapping trash in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica*

In this SustMeme Guest Post, Monty Simus, Global Director of Public Affairs, Policy, and Blue Finance, at The Ocean Cleanup, assesses the fallout from the collective failure to find a way forward on the Global Plastics Treaty.

MS: The world desperately needs policies to end plastic pollution. Unfortunately, however, we have just witnessed an historic opportunity to address this critical problem being well and truly wasted.

Over two years after the adoption of a resolution to end plastic pollution and after a fifth round of talks during a week of intense negotiations, involving nearly 200 countries, no agreement was reached in Busan, South Korea, on how to deliver a landmark international Global Plastics Treaty.

This setback comes at a time when international policies and the commitment of countries to address this urgent problem are crucial for success going forward.

Not all hope was lost, however. There was some progress.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Chair’s latest non-paper at INC5, was broadly supported by most countries as the basis for the next round of negotiations (INC 5.2). These are likely to take place in Nairobi in early 2025. We were also gratified to see the non-paper text consistently acknowledge the ambition to cleanup legacy plastic pollution.

Critical juncture for policy on pollution

The Ocean Cleanup has been tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch at an impressive rate. But, as this and our rivers work in such as Indonesia, Jamaica, and Guatemala has shown, cleanup alone isn’t enough.

Preventing further leakage into our rivers and oceans is paramount and, for this, we require the robust policies, partnerships, and funding a global treaty will deliver.

In the meantime, pollution of the natural environment will continue, heavily impacting food systems, health and economy as well as severely disrupting lives and livelihoods.

We stand at a critical juncture and must recognise our seas as a collective common good that necessitate improved management. There is no time to waste to address the growing plastic pollution crisis.

So, we urge all countries and parties to let the next negotiation session be final and ambitious, with a text that includes the cleanup of legacy plastic pollution, extending into areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Onward to INC5.2!

Portrait of Monty Simus, Global Director of Public Affairs, Policy, and Blue Finance, at The Ocean Cleanup

Monty Simus is Global Director of Public Affairs, Policy, and Blue Finance, at The Ocean Cleanup. A graduate of both Yale and Harvard, he has forged a career around impact investing, catalytic philanthropy, and innovative social finance. Focused on global water accessibility and resilient infrastructure, Monty has helped build and scale high-growth, purpose-driven commercial and philanthropic initiatives in the Global South — from sustainable aquaculture and fisheries in Asia and Africa, to tech to rid our oceans and rivers of plastic.

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