Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues
“Plastics Treaty | State of Play and Priorities for an Ambitious Outcome”
Statement by Mr Tormod C. ENDRESEN, Ambassador - Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations Norway.
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27 February 2025
Thanks to Geneva Environment Network and partners for organising this event to take stock of where we are.
Plastics pollution is the most rapidly escalating environmental problem globally.
As we now will enter the second round of the final meeting of the negotiations, the world is watching us.
People everywhere are expecting us to conclude an effective treaty by the end of this year. That is an important objective in itself. And a test of the multilateral system at a time when many are doubting its ability to deliver on pressing issue that only can be dealt with at the global level.
Norway has, along with the 69 members in the High Ambition Coalition called for legally binding measures across the entire life cycle of plastics to end plastic pollution by 2040.
We also participate in the Dialogue on Plastic Pollution in the WTO, that we believe can become a positive complement to the UN process.
Without action, leakage of plastics to the environment will reach 30 million tonnes in 2040, up from 20 million tonnes in 2020. The amount of plastics in rivers and oceans could almost double from in the same time period - to 300 million tonnes by 2040.
At INC5, over 100 countries supported the phasing out the most harmful plastic products and chemicals in plastics in a globally coordinated manner. Over 100 countries supported a goal to reduce production to sustainable levels - and committed to taking measures across the life cycle to this end.
We believe we can consolidate this larger group of countries for an effective treaty - also when it comes to financing and means of implementation. We all agree the treaty should have a robust financial mechanism to support recipient countries’ implementation of activities to combat plastic pollution.
We see it as crucial to reach agreement on the relevant articles (3, 6 and 11) ahead of INC5-2 to be able to conclude negotiations on an effective treaty there.
We hope you also agree and can support efforts to find common ground ahead of INC5-2. We cannot leave the groundwork to our principals.
We expect to participate in INC5-2 at ministerial level. I encourage your countries to participate at political level too.
As we all prepare for the resumed session, I thank Diana and her team for all their efforts to create these important opportunities to share information and look at priorities ahead.
I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Amb. Luis VAYAS VALDIVIESO from Ecuador, Chair of the INC.
(14:00-15:30) – WebEx