Support the inclusion of justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty
Support the inclusion of justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty
Experts have made it clear that urgent action is needed to curb our consumption of plastics. The global production of plastics has increased from 2 million tons in 1950 to over 400 million tons in 2022, and is expected to triple by 2050. The direct impacts of plastic production and pollution are well-documented across human and environmental health, and plastic production contributes to other planetary crises, including climate change.
Global Plastics Treaty to End Plastic Pollution!
In March 2022, 195 countries endorsed a resolution to forge an international legally-binding treaty to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024. The resolution, based on three initial draft resolutions from various nations, establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which began its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing a draft global legally binding agreement by the end of 2025. The Global Plastics Treaty aims include multiple approaches to address the full life-cycle of plastics from product design to disposal. INC-5.2 in August 2025 in Geneva is the final stage of negotiations. This is a historic moment to influence the treaty’s outcome.
Youth Priorities for a Strong Treaty:
- Embed justice and human rights in the final text
- Include language to reduce plastic production and toxic chemicals
- Require transparency, enforcement, and accountability
- Protect vulnerable and frontline communities
- Ensure meaningful youth participation throughout the process
Advancing Justice and Human Rights in the Global Plastics Treaty
Every step of the plastic lifecycle unfairly impacts the ocean and marginalized communities. Plastics pose not only environmental challenges but also threaten our climate, ocean health, and human rights. The Global Plastics Treaty offers an opportunity to tackle these issues equitably. Yet, the current treaty text overlooks justice and human rights concerns. For a deeper understanding, delve into the report ‘Advancing Ocean Justice in the Global Plastics Treaty’ by Earth Law Center. This report emphasizes the importance of ocean justice, encompassing ocean health, human rights, and social equity, in shaping effective plastic governance strategies.
What is #Youth4PlasticJustice?
To build continued support and momentum for a Global Plastic Treaty that includes consideration for ocean justice and human rights, EarthEcho International and Earth Law Center partnered together to mobilize youth during the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4) that took place in April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada.
Youth4PlasticJustice video campaign highlighting youth priorities for an effective Global Plastics Treaty. Click here to watch the video.
Here’s how you can get involved:
✅ Share your own video calling for justice and human rights and tag @earthecho on Instagram and Tiktok
✅ Sign the petition to support ocean justice in the treaty
✅ Use our social media toolkit to spread the word
✅ Join the conversation with #Youth4PlasticJustice
Meet EarthEcho’s INC 5.2 Delegation
EarthEcho’s Marine Plastics Ambassadors will be representing the dynamic global youth movement working to shape the final text of the Global Plastics Treaty. At INC 5.2 in Geneva, the EarthEcho delegation will attend open negotiations and side events, engage in strategic dialogues with global partners, and share stories and solutions across EarthEcho’s platforms. Most importantly, the delegation will advocate for the inclusion of justice and human rights and other youth priorities in the treaty language.