Plastic pollution governance is a hot topic. CSOs’ contribution in driving practical changes is crucial, as CSOs propose comprehensive solutions and are the most viable force in pulling all stakeholders together.
Invited by China Institute for Marine Affairs, I presented our “continuous efforts towards a treaty effectively addressing plastic pollution”, in Workshop on International Policy Development of Marine Pollution Control, including Marine Plastic Debris and Sustainable Waste Management, APEC.
During the workshop, I heard many good research and social practices and summaries of legal frameworks and policies. On behalf of our global network, I proposed PRACTICAL POLICIES.
I started my presentation by introducing our team and key focuses, after all, this is the first time I present to the sector of nature resources. I also shared my observation on the not-so-fruitful INC-3 – the oil-producing nations are trying their best to delay the negotiation, wasting time of saving the environment, as well as of all participants, together with the huge amount of cost.
However, we are still strongly advocating for a high ambitious binding treaty. I introduced our 5 success criteria for the new plastic treaty, elaborating them one by one. There are: legally binding, specific about what states must do, gradual strengthening, incentivize participation and compliance, and ambitious. The presentation is quite technical. I will not explain details here.
We are trying our very best to advocate for a really effective treaty that can stop the troublesome plastic pollutions. It is not easy, but we need to push, hardly.