Waterkeeper Alliance to World Leaders: The Planet Can’t Wait, Cut Plastic Pollution Now
By: Waterkeeper Alliance
Despite the world’s worsening plastic pollution crisis, global leaders failed to reach consensus on a legally binding global plastics treaty during the second part of the fifth round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), which just concluded in Geneva. While negotiations stalled, Waterkeeper Alliance and our partners were on the ground mobilizing support to demand a treaty that ends plastic production, bans single-use products, and supports a low-carbon, toxic-free, zero-waste economy that protects workers, as well as Indigenous, fenceline, and frontline communities.
Plastics are dangerous at every stage of their life cycle. They litter our environment, choke marine life, poison families living near petrochemical facilities, and fuel climate change. For years, experts have warned that only concrete, coordinated action from the international community can cut plastic pollution from production to disposal. This urgency was front and center in Geneva, where more than 100 countries called for meaningful solutions, refusing to let a minority of oil states to greenwash recycling through a weak treaty. While no agreement was reached, many nations made it clear they are committed to ending plastic pollution to protect public health, human rights, and local communities.
In response to the conclusion of INC-5.2, Waterkeeper Alliance Clean Water Defense Campaign Manager Chelsea McDonald released the following statement:
“The tide is turning on plastic and people worldwide are calling on action from government leaders to stop this toxic threat at its source. During the negotiations, I saw over 100 countries push for real solutions and reject oil-state greenwashing, but the goal isn’t just a treaty. It’s ending plastic pollution once and for all to protect our health, rights, and communities.”
Plastic pollution is a growing emergency that devastates waterways, critical ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities. Protecting the health of our planet requires a swift transition to a green economy that ensures workers’ rights are protected, safeguards human rights – especially for Indigenous peoples and frontline communities most acutely harmed – and tackles plastics by cutting them at their source. With the global community failing to secure a treaty, action at every level of government is now more urgent than ever.