Over 90 United Nations Member States, including ministers and high-level representatives, have issued a landmark declaration at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, calling for an ambitious and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty that targets plastic pollution at its source.
Dubbed the “Nice Wake-Up Call for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty,” the declaration outlines five critical points that signatories insist must form the foundation of any meaningful treaty.
These include: A full lifecycle approach, including limiting plastic production, phasing out harmful chemicals and problematic plastic products, and improved product design to support environmental sustainability.
Others are effective implementation mechanisms and treaty flexibility to adapt over time to scientific and technological advances.
The declaration comes ahead of the next Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) session in Geneva this August, where world leaders will hammer out the treaty’s final structure.
Civil Society Welcomes Bold Government Position
Reacting to the declaration, Andres del Castillo, Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), said the move signifies a growing resolve among countries to resist the influence of petrostates and fossil fuel lobbies.
“This is not just a symbolic gesture; this is a bold statement of intent. The Nice Wake-Up Call proves that countries are serious about tackling plastic pollution at its root.
“But come August in Geneva, statements must turn into action. We need legally binding solutions grounded in human rights and science,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of decision-making tools, such as majority voting, to bypass the “consensus-based tyranny” that has often hindered multilateral environmental action.
Sarah Baulch of Pew Charitable Trusts echoed the urgency, praising the collective leadership of the 95 nations.
“We welcome this bold step. It reflects growing global alignment on the need for a full lifecycle plastics treaty. Now is the time to move beyond business as usual. We must protect human health, biodiversity, and the environment from the toxic impacts of plastic pollution,” Baulch said.
Call to Action: African Nations, Nigeria Must Lead With Action
As the world unites to forge a historic plastics treaty, African nations, particularly Nigeria, must not remain on the sidelines. With a rising population, growing consumption, and vulnerable ecosystems, Nigeria has a critical role to play in championing an ambitious, inclusive, and enforceable plastics treaty.
Nigeria’s leadership in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is vital to the push for reduced plastic production and importation of single-use plastics.
Strengthen domestic waste management policies and align them with international best practices, advocate for a human rights-based approach that prioritizes the health of marginalized communities impacted by plastic waste and open dumping.
By Dare Akogun
