Today, during a dedicated event hosted by the Geneva Environment Network, the Local and Subnational Governments’ Coalition to End Plastic Pollution reaffirmed its commitment to supporting a strong Plastic Pollution Treaty. The Coalition introduced an open letter and draft langage addressed to the Chair of the negotiations (INC5) mentionning that the treaty presents a crucial opportunity for the global community to take decisive action against plastic pollution, and local and subnational governments are calling for their unique role to be formally recognized as essential to the Treaty’s successful implementation.
Although these governments may operate within a “whole of government” framework, their role in tackling plastic pollution is distinct. Often with fewer resources and less decision-making power than central governments, they nonetheless bear the direct responsibility of managing pollution. As primary actors on the ground, they organize waste collection, recycling, and pollution prevention efforts. For this reason, local governments are effectively at the forefront of combating plastic pollution and are indispensable to the treaty’s implementation.
The Coalition emphasizes that without the full inclusion of local and subnational governments, the Plastic Pollution Treaty risks becoming a “dead letter”—a powerful statement on paper but limited in real-world impact. “It is in everyone’s interest to support the full inclusion of local and subnational governments in the Treaty,” mentionned the representative of the Coalition, adding that only through their direct involvement can the treaty’s ambitions translate into meaningful action on the ground.
The Coalition’s advocacy is rooted in its longstanding contributions to major global environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montréal Biodiversity Framework. These experiences demonstrate that integrating local and subnational governments into international frameworks not only enhances effectiveness but also fosters a comprehensive approach to addressing environmental challenges.
Today, the Coalition submitted several modest yet crucial additions to the negotiation text to the Chair and negotiating States. These proposed changes emphasize the role of local governments, ensuring that the Plastic Pollution Treaty’s ambitious goals are matched by actionable strategies led by politicians closest to the communities affected by plastic waste.