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UN Negotiates Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution in Ottawa

The negotiations aim to develop a legally-binding treaty to combat plastic pollution, with Canada playing a leading role amid industry resistance.

Earth Day plastics opinion
Photo of plastic collected during a community cleanup and sorted by colour.
Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) staff cleans up piled up waste from the road side at Ikoyi in Lagos on January 2024
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Overview

  • Canada hosts the fourth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Ottawa, focusing on a global treaty against plastic pollution.
  • Environmental groups emphasize the urgent need to address plastic pollution, which is considered the second most pressing environmental issue after climate change.
  • Projections on significant buildings in Ottawa declare 'PLASTIC IS TOXIC', highlighting the dangers and urging decisive action.
  • Health experts link plastic additives to serious health risks, advocating for strict regulations and transparency in the plastics industry.
  • The treaty discussions face challenges from the fossil fuel and plastics industries, which have historically hindered progress on addressing plastic pollution.