High-level event on how cooperation on trade can contribute to the UNEA process on plastic pollution
Organized by UNCTAD, the UN Environment Programme, the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs, and the Government of Ecuador
Distinguished Ministers, delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
If we strive to foster a healthy planet, we need to act on one of today’s most evident and persistent environmental problems: plastic pollution.
Our plastics-dependent economy generate large volumes of plastic waste. To be clear about the scale: in 2020, plastic waste amounted to 367 million metric tons, with 8 to 12 million metric tons ending up in our oceans.
About 75% of all plastic ever produced has become waste. It may well continue to do so if measures to reduce, substitute, collect, recycle and sustainably dispose plastics are not put in place with harmonized global rules worldwide.
In this spirit, I welcome you warmly to today’s event, and to discussing the role of cooperation on trade.
Plastic is everywhere. And it is a multi-faceted, big business. Global plastics trade is worth at least US$1 trillion, and virtually every country is involved.
Trade occurs at every step in the plastics lifecycle; from its fossil fuel inputs, to intermediate products, final goods and even waste. This means that trade can make a big contribution to this process.
The problem is that plastics production and consumption negatively affect terrestrial and marine ecosystems as well as human health by accumulating solid waste, generating chemical pollution and GHG emissions, and distorting the food web.
The international community has expressed their concerns by introducing several goals and targets directly seeking to address plastic and other forms of pollution in SDGs 12, 13, 14 and 15.
It is, of course, also a concern of our work and we contribute to tackling these issues through:
- Developing the first ever plastic lifecycle trade database. The data show that plastics trade was at least 40% higher than previously thought.
It also indicates areas where markets exist for countries that can make alternatives.
- Analysing regulatory trends in WTO notifications on trade related environmental measures;
- Assessing impacts of marine litter and plastic pollution, as well as identifying possible policy recommendations at the United Nations Oceans Forum on Trade-related aspects of SDG 14;
- Implementing a joint programme with UK-FCDO on sustainable manufacturing and environmental pollution;
- Conducting studies on green finance for transition and transformation in high-carbon areas of the economy, including examining the financing of plastics and plastic alternatives.
Proposals on how to address plastic pollution within the UN System and in the WTO are emerging, including at the highest levels, with Ministers and Delegations calling to craft a mandate under the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) framework on tackling marine litter, plastic pollution and microplastics.
In the context of UNCTAD 15, Bridgetown Covenant Members are discussing options for how we can expand our contribution to decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, reducing waste and by addressing marine litter and other types of pollution, such as plastic waste and pollution from ships.
At the WTO, there are proposals to have a stand-alone Declaration at the 12th Ministerial Conference on Trade and Plastic Pollution. We would, of course, contribute to this process with our support and expertise.
In these processes, we must ensure that trade and development policies and negotiations can be an essential vehicle for change, and not an afterthought. This means:
- Trade rules should ensure that national regulations, bans, taxes and other mechanisms meant to tackle plastic pollution are set in a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent manner;
- Trade negotiations should contribute to incrementally phase out fuel subsidies that drive low primary plastic prices, leading to more traction to material alternatives;
- Trade negotiations should promote environmental services liberalization, minimum regulatory harmonization and investment facilitation in solid waste management and recyclizing;
- South-South trade under UNCTAD’s GSTP should create incentives for plastic substitutes such as natural fibers and agricultural waste;
- Pro-competitiveness policies and green finance can be used to promote sunrise industries and increase employment in plastic substitute sectors, and to ease the transition for sectors and countries that are heavily dependent or exposed to “sunk” or sinking assets;
- Trade-related intellectual property rules can enable temporary protection of relevant inventions while enable access and transfer of relevant technologies for circular production and waste management systems.
All these and other new ideas need to be discussed to find the right policy mix, align efforts, and promote mutually supporting actions.
Plastic owes its success to being malleable, useful and adaptable. The response by the multilateral trading system to the plastic pollution challenge must share these properties. That’s what Member States expect. And we are ready to support and contribute to this process.