www.greenpeace.org

Over 150 civil society groups and scientists from around the world have signed on to an open letter urging the UN to prevent the fossil fuel industry from undermining negotiations to agree to an effective Global Plastics Treaty.

https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-international-stateless/2023/05/dcb4dbd6-greenpeace-letter-to-unep-inc2.pdf

The letter to UNEP Executive Director Andersen and Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat Mathur-Filipp calls on UNEP to:

• Recognise that the public interest in addressing plastic pollution is not compatible with the private interests of the fossil fuel and petrochemical companies that produce plastic.

• Support the adoption of a strong conflict of interest policy to ensure that fossil fuel and petrochemical companies are not allowed to undermine the global response to plastic pollution.

• Protect official spaces at and around INCs from fossil fuel and petrochemical industry influence, by revoking fossil fuel and petrochemical industry sponsorship and participation in official spaces, following a precedent set by the UK government at COP26.

• Prioritise giving seats at the UN table to Indigenous Peoples and impacted communities who live on the frontlines of plastic pollution – such as production sites, plastic choked rivers and seas and toxic waste dumps – and to the independent scientists studying the impacts plastic pollution is having on our planet and our health.