Here’s what happened at the UN global plastics treaty talks

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🗞️ Driving the news: The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) for the UN Plastics Treaty was held in Kenya, aiming to agree on a treaty by the end of 2024 to end plastic pollution
• The talks focused on developing comprehensive strategies to manage the full life-cycle of plastic

🔭 The context: The treaty has been likened to the "Paris Agreement for plastics"
• It is shaping up to be the one of the most comprehensive treaties on a pressing environmental issues: plastic pollution, including in the marine environment

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This treaty is expected to provide a comprehensive framework to address the production, consumption, and disposal of plastics, including reducing primary plastic polymers and improving waste management

⏭️ What's next: Negotiators face the challenge of aligning different countries' positions on the life cycle of plastics and reaching a consensus on ambitious actions to reduce plastic pollution

💬 One quote: "The world is looking to you to come up with a treaty to address this challenge that has been with us for some time now." (Kwame Asamoa Mensa-Yawson, Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership)

📈 One stat: Less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled annually, leading to an estimated 400 million tonnes of waste, with over 14 million tonnes ending up in oceans

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