planet-tracker.org

Today, on World Environment Day, we reflect on the latest round of negotiations towards a Global Plastic Pollution Treaty and what financial markets should take away from the discussions.

“Today, we are extracting Fossil Fuels to produce plastic that we then burn. It’s ecological nonsense […] Plastic pollution is a ticking time bomb […] We need to reduce plastic production,” – Source: Emmanuel Macron, President of France, at the opening plenary session. Also see Le Monde, 4 June 2023)

“We cannot recycle our way out of this mess. The only solution is the elimination of unnecessary plastics.” (Source: Inger Andersen, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at opening plenary session of INC-2).

“The world’s eyes are on us once again to make progress and deliver without delay. We only have three more sessions ahead of us.” Ms Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary, INC-Plastics Secretariat (Source: Opening speech in INC-2)

“It is sad to think that nature speaks, and human beings do not listen. When we listen to nature and we act, we can make progress.” INC Chair H.E. Mr Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez, quoting Victor Hugo (Source: UNEP press release 3 June 2023)

“Did you know when it rains, it rains plastic? Unlike a regular forecast, this is one we can change.” (Source: Tony Worby, Director, Planet Portfolio, Minderoo Foundation) See The Plastic Forecast