Call to Action – Host Country Alliance

We are at a critical juncture to take meaningful action on tackling the plastic pollution crisis.

The magnitude of the challenge of plastic pollution is significant at the global level: plastic pollution costs up to $2.5 trillion in ecological, economic, and social impacts every year and affects over 800 species. We produce more than 450 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, and plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is expected to triple by 2040. Business-as-usual growth in plastics would burn through a projected 20 percent of the carbon budget for 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040.

That is why, in 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly came together to make a historic commitment to develop an international, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution with a two-year negotiating mandate.

As host countries of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process, the governments of Uruguay, France, Kenya, Canada, and the Republic of Korea have come together in recognition of the importance of the task at hand and the need to galvanize momentum toward achieving this goal. As we approach the fourth session of the INC in Ottawa this April, our governments are coming together to express our commitment to conclude this process by the end of 2024. We stand ready to support the INC chair and his bureau and call on all member states to commit to working constructively toward an ambitious and effective global agreement that responds to the aspirations of people and communities and is commensurate with the scale of the plastic pollution crisis, including by:

1. Supporting the INC chair to facilitate productive, inclusive, and constructive negotiations
2. Working toward a swift conclusion of the development of the global agreement by the end of 2024, at INC-5 in Busan, Republic of Korea
3. Acting in collaboration with all actors, including subnational governments, Indigenous peoples, civil society, industry, local communities, youth, and others as appropriate, to ensure ambitious and realistic paths forward
4. Fostering a solutions-oriented negotiation environment that respects and considers all views
5. Advocating for strong, ambitious, and effective obligations across the full life cycle of plastics that are commensurate with the scale of the plastic pollution crisis the world is facing
6. Recognizing that ending plastic pollution constitutes an imperative prerequisite to protect human health and the environment and that governments, partners, and communities need to manage the currently unsustainable flows of plastic waste generated in a safe and sound environmental manner
7. Requesting G7 and G20 Presidencies and Ministers to lead by example and contribute to increase political momentum to secure an ambitious agreement by the end of the year

Together, we will increase understanding and generate political momentum at all levels to build and secure a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024, so that future generations may benefit from a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Quotes

Uruguay

“We put the long tradition of Uruguay hosting successful international environmental meetings at the services of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee process. The Ministerial Alliance of Host Nations is a timely initiative that can play a significant role in facilitating productive negotiations that will result in clear obligations and means of implementation in the treaty to end plastic pollution, to be completed at the end of this year.”

– His Excellency Robert Bouvier, Minister of Environment, Uruguay

France

“France is proud to be part of this group of countries, which is actively engaged for the development of a successful and ambitious treaty to end plastic pollution. Together, our five countries share a commitment and responsibility to drive this process forward in support of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee chair. You can count on France to keep setting the bar high and strengthening diplomatic and political efforts so that we deliver and complete our work by the end of 2024 in Busan.”

– His Excellency Hervé Berville, Secretary of State for the Sea and Biodiversity, France

Kenya

“The journey toward a global treaty on plastics pollution is rich with a diversity of options, making attainment of the deal in 2024 an opportunity for innovation.”

– The Honourable Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, The Republic of Kenya

Canada

“Today’s launch of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Host Country Alliance underscores our shared commitment to end plastic pollution and recognizes the urgency of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024. I am optimistic that through our shared efforts, we can accelerate momentum and achieve an ambitious outcome. Canada looks forward to hosting the world at INC-4 in April as the next key step toward this important goal.”

– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Republic of Korea

“Even now, as we speak, plastic pollution is spilling into the environment, seriously affecting our planet. We need to act now. As the host country, Korea wishes to see completion of the international, legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution at the INC-5 in Busan, in November 2024.”

– HE Sangjun LIM, Vice Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea