Dialogue on Addressing Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade

Addressing the global plastics pollution is not only an environment concern but one that also requires looking at the trade dimensions of plastics. This was the key message delivered at the virtual meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE).

The Government of Fiji in collaboration with the Government of the People’s Republic of China facilitated the virtual informal dialogue during the November session of WTO Committee on Trade and Environment meeting on Tuesday 17th November 2020, to examine the role of trade in supporting global efforts to address plastics pollution.

The dialogue engaged with experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Economic Forum (WEF), WTO and academia, included 237 participants from around the world who had an interest on trade and environment sustainability.

Representing Fiji at this virtual dialogue, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan highlighted that the informal dialogue provides the impetus to examine how the WTO can contribute to efforts to reduce plastics pollution, support a more environmentally sustainable plastics trade and transition to a more circular economy.

The dialogue received a wide range of support from WTO member countries who indicated that it is now time to scale up efforts and enhance coherence of global action to ensure that actions are complimentary and focused on reducing plastics pollution and support environment sustainability.

Key discussions also included strategies for improving transparency, monitoring trade trends, strengthening policy coherence, identifying the scope for collective approaches and most importantly close collaboration with other international processes and efforts.

The dialogue was supported by the WTO secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Economic Forum (WEF) in reaffirming that there will be greater collaboration with current global efforts especially under UNEP’s global leadership on addressing plastics pollution.