The Governments of Rwanda and Norway have launched today The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. Canada, Peru, Germany, Senegal, Georgia, the Republic of Korea, the UK, Switzerland, Portugal, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Costa Rica, Iceland, Ecuador, France, and the Dominican Republic also participate in this agreement.

The initiative comes after the first initiated historic UN Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 was signed in March 2022. This was the start negotiations of for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.

Thereby, The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution will issue statements. Also, undertake intercessional work on essential elements and issues to inform the negotiations to develop a landmark treaty by 2024.

Secondly, the Norwegian government has confirmed members of The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution will meet in New York. During the UN General Assembly, to discuss the next steps in the coalition’s work.

The need for global efforts

Regarding this, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway and co-chair of the coalition, Espen Barth-Eide said: “We took the initiative to form a group of ambitious countries to work for a truly effective global treaty. This will establish common global rules, turn off the tap and end plastic pollution by 2040.”

Moreover, the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda and co-chair of the coalition, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya stated: “Rwanda started the journey to end plastic pollution in 2004. Unfortunately, plastic wastes are still visible in the country downstream. This proves the need for global efforts towards a common goal of ending plastic pollution. Because this is an unacceptable burden to place on future generations. Plastic pollution constitutes a planetary crisis with impacts on human health, biodiversity and climate system.”

In more detail, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is planned to start on November 28th in Punta del Este, Uruguay.