Tuesday, June 10th. Nice, France – Today, during the United Nations Ocean Conference, more than 90 countries issued the Nice Wake up Call, a Ministerial Declaration renewing countries’ commitment to reaffirm their common ambition to end plastic pollution to protect human health and the environment, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, as mandated by UNEA resolution 5/14.
In response, more than 230 civil society organizations and the #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement have welcomed the countries’ declaration.
BFFP members and allies react to countries' continued commitment to an ambitious treaty:
Andres del Castillo, Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), said:
“It’s encouraging to see countries’ ministers come together to recommit to the red lines they drew in Busan. The Nice Wake Up Call for an Ambitious Plastics treaty shows that standing up for ambition was not a one-off event, but part of a trend, where countries are willing to come together to reinforce core elements for a strong treaty [...] The Wake Up Call should be seen as a floor, not a ceiling. For the Global Plastics Treaty to succeed, Member States must move beyond vague promises and define how they are going to deliver, including through clear, legally binding measures and a human rights-based approach.”
Read full statement here.
Ana Rocha, GAIA’s Global Plastics Policy Director, Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives (GAIA), said:
“We are heartened to see this demonstration of ambition from the majority of countries, who are showing a united front against the small number of petro-chemical states trying to prevent a strong treaty. While there are several crucial elements missing from the statement, it is a strong starting point for negotiations. We now need these Member States to continue to stand their ground, and secure the historic treaty the world needs.”
Read full statement here.
Graham Forbes, Greenpeace Head of Delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA, said:
“The Nice Declaration, signed by an overwhelming majority of countries, is the wake-up call the world needs. Governments are finally saying the quiet part out loud: we cannot end plastic pollution without cutting plastic production. Full stop.”
Read full statement here.
Severino Lima Jr., President, International Association of Waste Pickers, said:
“The Nice Declaration marks a significant step forward, but it must serve as a baseline, not a limit. For a truly just transition, the treaty must explicitly recognize waste pickers, ensure our inclusion in decision-making, and provide the necessary support to safeguard our livelihoods and health.”
Juressa Lee, co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics, a Break Free From Plastic ally:
“The Nice Declaration is a welcome step, but words must be followed with actions if we are serious about protecting the rights and health of all. Member States must show decisive leadership at INC-5.2 and deliver a strong, legally binding plastics treaty that leaves no one behind. Communities on the frontlines, including Indigenous Peoples, are bearing the brunt of plastic pollution at every stage of its toxic lifecycle: from oil and gas extraction, to plastic production, to waste dumping, and the challenging process of environmental remediation, including the restoration of contaminated sites and the recognition of those who have protected these oceans and territories for millennia. This is possible if the INC will centre and learn from these communities and their experiences and expertise. We need action, not delay, to safeguard the ocean and the communities that depend on them.
Jo Banner, co-founder, The Descendents Project, said,
“Much like the plantation system from which it stems, plastic production inflicts lasting harm on Black bodies—especially those of resident’s in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. INC-5.2 offers an opportunity for Member States to intervene for our families who have been ravaged by plastic pollution for generations. With Our communities on thin ice, attempts to dilute language by lowering ambition, promoting false solutions, and excluding human rights are a death sentence to fenceline communities. The Nice Declaration is a start but not the finish line—negotiators must move forward with ambition as if our lives depended on it—because in Cancer Alley they certainly do.”
Read full statement here.
