This morning, 5 June, the Global Cities Hub joined the Geneva Environment Network and the other actors of International Geneva to celebrate World Environment Day.
We highlighted the key role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in fighting plastic pollution, this year’s World Environment Day theme.
- They are responsible for ensuring plastic waste is correctly collected, stored, and recycled.
- They assess, identify, prioritize, clean and collect data on areas affected by plastic pollution.
- They implement educational initiatives to shift mindsets around plastic usage and recycling.
During the High-Level Dialogue, GCH co-director Kamelia Kemileva spoke on behalf of the Coalition of Local and Subnational Governments (LSNG).
Thank you,
First, I would like to warmly thank H.E. Amb. Sung-yo CHOI, of the Republic of Korea for highlighting the crucial role of cities in this process. And thank you as well to the team of GEN for continuously recognizing and including local perspectives.
I speak today on behalf of the Global Cities Hub, an organization dedicated to city diplomacy, and also on behalf of the Coalition of Local and Subnational Governments, which gathers over 100 local and regional governments that have endorsed our joint efforts.
We have 2 min speaking time and therefore a simple yet essential question: How will the future treaty be implemented, and by whom?
Certainly, national governments are negotiating the treaty and will play a key role. But many aspects of implementation — such as waste management, recycling, enforcement of new standards, name it — will fall directly on the shoulders of local and regional governments. These are their core responsibilities.
Another important but often overlooked point: if the treaty leads to the phase-out of certain plastic industries, including but not limited to local factories, but also schools, hospitals, it is municipalities who will be faced with managing the social consequences — including the reintegration of workers who may lose their jobs.
These are just two examples — there are many others.
Therefore our message to all Member States is also simple:
Keep and strengthen the language that already refers to local and subnational governments in the treaty.
We will continue to submit concrete language proposals to support this effort.It is not only important to send a signal to national legislators who will be tasked with implementing the treaty at home — it is also essential for the future Secretariat of this instrument to be mandated and resourced to work directly with local and regional governments.
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), is scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 August 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.