175 countries adopted Historic resolution on Plastic Pollution at fifth UN Environment Assembly

Plastic pollution is one challenge that has raised global concern. Countries across the world are trying to address the issue and take measures to control it.

Under the able guidance of the United Nations, these countries and deliberating ways to deal with it.

“The resumed session of fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) held from 28th February 2022 to 2nd March 2022 in Nairobi, considered three draft resolutions to address plastic pollution. One of the draft resolutions under consideration was that of India. The draft resolution submitted by India called for immediate collective voluntary action by countries,” Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed it in a press statement.

Talking about India’s role in the whole process, the Ministry said, “India engaged constructively with all member states in UNEA 5.2 to develop consensus on the resolution for driving global action on plastic pollution by setting up of an intergovernmental negotiating committee for a new international legally binding treaty.”

The Ministry also informed that on the insistence of India, the principle of national circumstances and capability while taking actions to address plastic pollution was included in the text of the resolution to allow developing countries follow their development trajectories.

“India also stood for not mandating the inter-governmental negotiating committee with development of targets, definitions, formats and methodologies, at this stage, pre-judging the outcome of deliberations of the Committee. The provision for immediate collective voluntary actions by the countries was also included to address plastic pollution on urgent and continual basis,” it said.