Towards a global agreement to combat plastic pollution
As a member state of the United Nations, Aotearoa New Zealand is working with other countries on a global agreement to eliminate plastic pollution.
As a member state of the United Nations, Aotearoa New Zealand is working with other countries on a global agreement to eliminate plastic pollution.
The flow of plastic litter and plastic pollution into the marine environment is a growing global problem.
Plastic pollution has significant environmental, health, social, and economic impacts.
By 2050 plastic production is expected to grow to 1,600 million tonnes per year. This is up from 407 million tonnes in 2015. It would amount to around 5.6 times the weight of all humans.
The United Nations has recognised that the rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution, including microplastics, presents a serious transboundary environmental problem. New Zealand has joined other UN member states in supporting the launch of negotiations towards a new agreement to combat plastic pollution. This legally binding agreement will be negotiated over the coming two years.
Core elements of a global agreement are likely to include a:
The overall scope, level of ambition, and nature of commitments of a global agreement all remain subject to negotiations.
Taking action on plastic waste is an important step in New Zealand’s journey to a low-waste economy with an effective resource recovery and recycling system.
New Zealand supports the development of an effective global agreement to reduce plastic waste and eliminate plastic pollution on a global scale.
In the negotiations of a global plastics agreement New Zealand intends to:
We also propose to prioritise a low-emission approach to options to reduce plastic waste and recognise the impact of plastic pollution on human and ecosystem health. We propose to pursue provisions that are consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles, ensuring Māori rights and interests can be reflected in the negotiations.
For more information about New Zealand’s negotiating mandate, read the Cabinet paper.
New Zealand’s statements and interventions from the first meeting of the INC [PDF, 56.9 KB]
The first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting (INC1) is scheduled for November 28 to December 2, 2022, in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
First Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting [UN Environment Programme website]
New Zealand is sending an in-person delegation to INC1 to advocate for an agreement that aligns with our interests.
The Ministry for the Environment has prepared for INC1 along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Five INC meetings are planned, and negotiations are expected to conclude by the end of 2024.
At the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) from 28 February to 2 March 2022, countries across the world agreed to work towards a new global agreement on combatting marine plastic litter and plastic pollution.
The mandate agreed at UNEA-5.2 to negotiate a global agreement is consistent with New Zealand’s domestic work on plastic. The development of a global agreement will cover the full life cycle of plastics from production to disposal and will include microplastics in its scope. The International Negotiating Committee is expected to complete its work by the end of 2024.
The summary report of the UNEA’s Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics [UNEA website] identifies a range of potential options to address the marine plastic litter problem.
Aotearoa New Zealand has also endorsed the:
We are also members of a range of other international groups to reduce plastic pollution such as the:
If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback during this process, please get in touch with us at UNPlasticsTreaty@mfe.govt.nz