Plastic Pollution & Cities: Building Momentum Towards a Global Plastics Treaty

Date: Wednesday, 15 March 2023             Location: Online event on Zoom

Time: 11:00-12:00 CET / 13:00 - 14:00 EAT / 15:30-16:30 IST / 17:00-18:00 WIB

Did you know that 75% of all plastic produced has ended up as trash in landfills and water bodies?

Cities generate approximately 70% of the world's total waste and suffer costs to human health and the environment. But cities are also a crucial part of the solution, as local governments are often responsible for the collection, transportation and processing of waste. 

Recognizing the positive global impact of a circular economy for plastic and the need for common guidelines to close the plastic loop, the UN Environment Assembly adopted a landmark resolution in March 2022 titled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument”.   

What are the main challenges and opportunities for cities to tackle plastic pollution? How can local governments engage with UN-led efforts to develop a future Plastics Treaty?   

UNEP's UrbanShift organised a webinar on March 15 2023 to discuss these important questions. We heard from experts, city representatives and waste pickers about the causes and consequences of plastic pollution in cities, and learned about what cities can do to initiate a just transition to a plastic-free economy, including understanding the process for the development of a UN-led global Plastics Treaty.