UN global plastic treaty: progress and prayer

What progress has been made so far?

The first draft of the treaty – known as ‘zero draft’ – was released after the second round of talks in Paris in May. And there was a lot to be thankful for. Despite the strong push by plastic producers and lobbyists, all of the things we’ve been campaigning for were included.

The draft covers everything from production to final disposal, and the inclusion of waste pickers – the 20 million workers who collect 60 percent of the plastic that gets recycled globally. That’s a testament to the power of Tearfund supporters praying and speaking up together.

But everything is still to play for at the upcoming negotiations in November. There are different options in the draft that delegates must choose between. If the most justice-focussed elements of this draft remain in the final text, the treaty could be life-changing for people living in poverty who are facing the worst harmful impacts of plastic pollution the most. If not then the treaty will fail to improve the lives of people who are suffering right now. 

We need governments to remember how damaging plastic pollution is for communities and commit to taking this seriously, uniting around real, global and mandated targets in the draft, not watering it down, stalling progress and delaying change. And it's vital that we – together with the church around the world – continue to pray and campaign to keep the pressure on. 

What is the significance of the location for INC-3?

With the third round of treaty negotiations being held in Africa, we need to ensure that the voices of communities across the continent are heard. Campaigners and faith leaders from Kenya and Malawi will be joining Tearfund, and will be lobbying governments and speaking to the media, highlighting the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on their communities.

Plastic waste is three times more likely to be mismanaged in sub-Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world, due to overproduction and the lack of access to recycling or waste collections. It’s spiralling out of control.

This mismanaged plastic waste ends up in places like Dandora dumpsite, just a few miles away from the INC-3 negotiation venue, where the equivalent of 30 truckloads of plastic packaging is dumped every day. Communities like those that live and work around Dandora and on the dumpsite itself must have their voices heard in the negotiations.

Closing the gap

We want to see an ambitious target being agreed on the reduction of plastic production –  a target that sets a common goal and timeframe and which requires every country to take action. We need global action to deliver real change.

It’s also vital the plastics treaty closes the pollution gap for people living in poverty by both reducing how much plastic is being made, and scaling up how much is being collected and recycled. By working at both ends of the crisis, we can close the gap and end the impacts on communities and creation, protecting people's right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

How to keep up to date and pray

During INC-3, from 13 to 19 November, make sure you keep an eye out on social media for updates from the team in Kenya. We’ll be sending urgent requests for prayer on our SMS alerts that week, too and you can sign up to receive Tearfund Action emails for an update from the summit.