In an article published on September 27, 2018, by news provider Plastics News Europe (PNE), reporter Shahrzad Pourriahi informed that the United Nations (UN) launched a new initiative called “Global Plastics Platform.” The launch was announced on September 25, 2018, at a session “Fighting plastic pollution: A global race to the top,” which was organized by the UN Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the European Commission (EC) during the UN General Assembly held in New York, U.S..
As UN Environment explained in its press release published on September 26, 2018, the initiative will take a form of a “network that will encourage new commitments to reduce plastic pollution and explore innovative ways to change the habits of design, production, consumption and disposal of plastics around the world, supporting the transition to a more circular economy.” Further, it aims “to provide support to countries and cities who made . . . ambitious commitments [on plastics], by facilitating the sharing of experiences, the establishment of new policies and inspiration for new commitments.”
Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment, said that “the Global Plastics Platform is exactly the kind of initiative we need to bring countries together in the fight against millions of tonnes of plastics that end up in our oceans each year.”
During the same session, the EC’s first vice president Frans Timmermans introduced the EU’s Plastics Strategy (FPF reported) and draft regulation targeting single-use plastics (FPF reported). “Everyone sees that we have a problem with plastics and everyone knows we need to solve it and it’s urgent,” Timmermans said. He further added that “this is one of those issues that even if everyone is on the same page, we still need regulation to make sure that we head in the right direction.”
Read more
UN Environment (September 26, 2018). “Nations commit to fight plastic pollution together during the UN General Assembly.”
Shahrzad Pourriahi (September 27, 2018). “UN launches global platform to fight plastic pollution.” Plastics News Europe
EC (September 25, 2018). “Opening of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.”
Priyanka Shrestha (September 26, 2018). “UN launches new platform to fight global plastic pollution.” Energy Life News
Rose Brooke (September 27, 2018). “UN commits to fighting plastic pollution.” eppm
