UN seals landmark pact in fight against plastic pollution

Nations committed to work on treaty to improve recycling, clean up plastic waste and curb production

NAIROBI • The United Nations has approved a landmark agreement to create the world’s first-ever global plastic pollution treaty, describing it as the most significant environmental deal since the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Member states held talks for more than a week in Nairobi to agree on the outline of a pact to rein in soaring plastic pollution, an environmental crisis that extends from ocean trenches to mountaintops.

Government officials cheered and punched the air on Wednesday after the adoption of a resolution to create a legally binding plastic pollution treaty, which is due to be finalised by 2024.

The agreement commits nations to work on a treaty that would not only aim to improve recycling and clean up the world’s plastic waste, but would also encompass curbs on plastics production itself.

That could put measures like a ban on single-use plastics, a major driver of waste, on the table.