{"id":17981,"date":"2022-11-02T17:30:39","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T16:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.genevacitieshub.org\/?p=17981"},"modified":"2022-11-08T15:17:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T14:17:57","slug":"involve-cities-in-the-negotiations-on-plastic-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalcitieshub.org\/en\/involve-cities-in-the-negotiations-on-plastic-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Involve cities in the negotiations on plastic pollution!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Starting discussion on a new international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution (as per resolution 5\/14<\/a> adopted by the UN Environment Assembly in March 2022) is a very positive step for humanity. But this can only be achieved with the full involvement of all stakeholders, including those at \u201clocal level\u201d, as referred to in the resolution. When it comes to dealing with plastic pollution, cities and other local and regional governments are instrumental and should be included in the debates that will develop an international convention to end plastic pollution.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geneva Cities Hub (GCH) spoke at a dedicated event organized by several stakeholders and coordinated by the <\/a>Geneva Environment Network<\/a> (GEN) on 2 November 2022. GCH expressed strong support in favor of cities\u2019 involvement in the intergovernmental negotiation process, starting late November in Uruguay. \u201cStates will experience major difficulties to reach their objectives if they do not embrace cities as partners from the very beginning of the process<\/em>. Negotiating together and implementing together is the only path to success!<\/em>\u201d stated Kamelia Kemileva,<\/strong> Co-Director, Geneva Cities Hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multilateral negotiations on a legally binding instrument are led by States. From time to time, other stakeholders such as cities are invited to make a statement, but they are usually left on the side lines of the process, out of the negotiation area. That is for example the case with the climate change COPs, with local and regional governments being left behind closed doors!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Geneva Cities Hub believes that the time has come for change. Cities and other local and regional governments are main actors when it comes to plastic pollution. In a similar manner to climate change and other global challenges, cities are the main contributors to plastic pollution, given people\u2019s concentration and their dense infrastructure. However, cities are also the main driver to address plastic pollution, given their innovation potential and broad scale impact. So they have to be included as partners in the negotiation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some concrete proposals to enable cities\u2019 inclusion in the negotiations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n