Midway into the fifth and final negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty, WWF is concerned by today's stocktake showing a lack of progress by negotiators to trim treaty text and to include core measures that would make the eventual treaty capable of ending plastic pollution. World Wildlife Fund issued the following statement from Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste and business:
"What was suspected over the last two-year treaty process became crystal clear today. Not all countries are going to have the courage to finish this deal, but that can't stop us from delivering a treaty that will finally meet the scale of this crisis head on. The progressive majority now has a mandate: leave the laggards behind, speed up the development of the text, and utilize every tool available to get this job done.
"At this stage in the negotiations, there are two options left - deliver a watered-down treaty that leaves the plastic crisis in the hands of the next generation to fix once again, or realize that when it comes to plastic pollution, some countries will choose profit over planet, and when they do, we forge a path forward without them."
