Scientific opinion published in Environmental Science and Technology argues United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) should define terminology around plastic pollution; argues “marine plastic” label misleading; “pollution” a better term than “littler”, “debris”, or “waste”; microplastics should be considered together with macroplastics
April 16, 2021
UNEP: Legislative guide for reduction of single-use plastics
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) releases legislative guide discussing four approaches to reduce plastic waste generation; includes single-use plastic bans, tax and economic incentives, product standards, extended producer responsibility; advocates for multipronged, complementary regulations
May 13, 2019
Basel Convention to control plastic waste trade
Parties to the Convention adopt changes to place plastic waste under the Prior Informed Consent procedure; requires plastic waste exporters to obtain permission from importing countries
March 18, 2019
UN Environment Assembly on plastic pollution
UN member states review several resolutions on plastic pollution and single-use plastics at fourth UN Environment Assembly; CIEL argues that resulting agreements do not provide the scale and urgency needed
March 12, 2019
UNEP launches GCO II synthesis report
Synthesis report of the Global Chemicals Outlook released during 4th United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi; full report to be released in April 2019