Briefing on the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC)
2 November 2022, 10.00-11.30, CICG - room 4
Opening remarks by Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith, Permanent Representative of Norway
Good afternoon, colleagues, and friends.
Thank you to Switzerland, my colleague from Rwanda, Ambassador Marie Chantal (Rwakazina) and other partners for organising this briefing (to share information on the High Ambition Coalition to end Plastic Pollution).
Norway is proud to co-chair the Coalition, together with Rwanda. The coalition currently has 30 members, and we hope that many more will join before the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee gathers in Punta del Este in Uruguay for its first meeting at the end of this month.
At the briefing today, we will hear more about both this coalition, as well as the business coalition which reflects private sector commitments that will be essential for moving forward.
At the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi earlier this year, we witnessed the global call and commitment to address plastic pollution across sectors and regions. As of now, the OECD estimates that plastic consumption and waste generation will triple by 2060.
Already today, plastic particles are found everywhere on the planet – in our air, soil, water, and even in our blood samples. How do we tackle this challenge?
We see an ambitious global agreement as the most effective solution, and that is why we joined this Coalition.
Plastic pollution must be addressed across policy sectors, including trade policy. Norway also participates in the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade in the WTO. (We believe that this initiative can contribute constructively to the work to end plastic pollution.)
The ambition of the Coalition is to end plastic pollution by 2040. We believe these efforts are needed to keep the earth a safe, sustainable, and durable place to live. We now have a window of opportunity to establish the needed legally binding framework by the end of 2024. If we do not meet this deadline, this window may close rapidly.
We believe a successful treaty needs to be flexible to national implementation, but nevertheless incorporate global, binding, and ambitious rules. We are grateful for the efforts of all partner countries. The Coalition remains open to those who share our commitment.
Thank you.