The global plastic pollution crisis is impacting Canada and countries around the world. Canadians expect the government to take decisive steps to protect them from the impacts of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution litters our environments, damages our ecosystems, and poses potential threats to human health. The scale of this global problem has reached a boiling point that requires urgent action, as its global production and waste are set to triple by 2060, with plastic pollution projected to grow 2.5 times by 2040.
In 2022, Canada, with other countries, committed to develop a new, legally binding global deal on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Adopting this agreement would represent one of the most significant environmental decisions since the Paris Climate Accords and the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Beginning next week and running until December 1, 2024, Canada will participate in the fifth and final planned session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, Republic of Korea.
Canada will work with all countries to finalize an ambitious and effective global agreement. Canada wants to see a treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics with the aim to end plastic pollution and protect the environment and human health from its impacts. Canada joins the High Ambition Coalition of countries that support global restrictions, prohibitions, phase-outs, and requirements for certain plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastics, as well as strong measures to enable sustainable consumption, production, and a safe circular economy; improve plastic waste management; and reduce plastic pollution from entering the environment.
Canada welcomes the participation of the business community, which is advocating for more harmonized global rules. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, for example, represents more than 200 businesses and financial institutions in Canada and around the world, including many of the world's most recognizable brands. Their advocacy emphasizes the importance of harmonized global rules to address the entire life cycle of plastics.
Canada understands that an ambitious deal is an inclusive deal. That's why Canada calls for an agreement that considers the aspirations of vulnerable countries and those with limited capacity who may require assistance to meet treaty obligations. Canada will work with partners toward the adoption of public and private funding sources and will reflect considerations of Indigenous peoples and different groups of populations, including workers and persons in vulnerable situations.
Canada has been heavily engaged in advancing the fight to tackle plastic pollution, both at home and abroad. Last April, Canada successfully hosted the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), welcoming more than 3,000 participants from over 170 countries to Ottawa to focus on progress toward reaching the global agreement. Canada has also hosted or co-hosted four large Ministerial gatherings in 2024, including on the margins of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), the Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), and the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) to discuss potential areas of convergence on technical topics and bridge the gap on positions.
At the same time, Canada is taking action to protect Canadians from toxic substances. The Government is committed to strengthening the chemicals management regime under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
The Canadian delegation looks forward to working with other member states, Indigenous peoples, intergovernmental partners, labour, civil society, and industry at INC-5 to reach a final ambitious global agreement by the end of the session to end plastic pollution.