Responding to the conclusion of the INC-3 talks in Nairobi where countries were thrashing out changes to the first-draft of a Global Plastics Treaty, environmentalists at City to Sea responded with disappointment that the talks had been side-tracked by vested interests, but insisted that there was still hope.
City to Sea’s Policy Manager, Steve Hynd, said,
“In Nairobi this week we saw more petrochemical lobbyists than negotiators from 70 countries combined. It’s little surprise then to see the same tactics of delay and distraction that we see at climate change COP summits.
“This stands in contrast to what we, and the planet, urgently needs – a laser focused process to agree a Global Plastics Treaty.
“Perhaps the biggest disappointment was a failure to agree to intersessional work ahead of the next round of negotiations, INC-4. This means that there will be more lost time when what we need is to be progressing at pace.”
Hynd continued,
“Despite the vested interests and fossil fuel lobbyists, there is still hope.
“The positive measures that we welcomed as part of the “zero draft” are still on the table.
“We’re hopeful that we will still see a Global Plastics Treaty that includes commitments to cap and reduce plastic use, and ambitious and legally binding reusable targets to ensure a just and fair transition.”