Paris: We could – literally – wrap the planet in plastic!

Yep — that’s how much plastic humankind has generated since the 1950s!

Representatives from 175 countries are gathering in Paris from May 29th to June 2nd, 2023, to prepare an international treaty to combat plastic pollution. The aim is to end single-use plastics by 2040. French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, hosted a preparatory meeting in advance of this important summit. Beyond the stated objectives, France is advocating, in conjunction with other European Union countries, for a mandatory reduction in plastic production.

Plastic pollution is staggering, with the 8,300 million tonnes of plastic produced since 1950 having the potential to cover France with 50 centimeters of polymers or blanket the Earth's surface with a 2-millimeter layer. Various nations will negotiate the treaty's method of governance and its ambitions. They will discuss whether decisions can be made by qualified majority, which would be less challenging than unanimous agreement.

The primary objective of the treaty is to limit single-use plastics, which represent 40% of produced volumes. Several meetings will follow the Paris summit, with the agreement's signing hoped for in spring 2025 under the auspices of the United Nations in Ecuador. France, the European Union, several African, and Latin American countries seek a binding agreement by 2040.