Speaker at U.N. Oceans Conference urges action on plastics treaty, cites 18%–20% of plastic waste reaching oceans

A speaker at the U.N. Oceans Conference said that 18% to 20% of all plastic waste is entering the world’s oceans and urged continued, coordinated action toward a global plastics treaty.

"Plastic impacts oceans. 18 to 20% of all plastic waste is ending up in the oceans," the speaker said. "Plastics has a huge impact on ocean health, on economy. Tourism is impacted. It means that fisher folk living on coastal areas are impacted and also, beach cleanup." The speaker later added, "Beach cleanup costs a lot. And what are we doing here at the U.N. Oceans Conference?"

The speaker pointed to diplomatic momentum at the meeting, noting celebration for the "biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions treaty" and saying attention is now shifting to negotiations on a plastics treaty. "The scale and urgency of the plastic pollution crisis highlights the need for continued bold, coordinated, and collective action," the speaker said, adding, "There is hope that it will conclude." The speaker concluded, "The agreement will conclude in Geneva this year in August."

The remarks framed plastic pollution as both an environmental threat and an economic strain on coastal communities and tourism, and they characterized the plastics treaty as a near-term diplomatic target. The statement that 18% to 20% of plastic waste reaches the oceans and the scheduled August conclusion in Geneva were assertions made by the speaker in the session and are reported here as such.