UN Secretary-General Calls for Ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for the creation of an ambitious global treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution. This call is part of a broader initiative to address waste management and its environmental impacts. Guterres emphasized the need to prevent, recover, and responsibly manage waste, highlighting that open burning of waste pollutes the air and microplastics contaminate food, water, and the human body. He also pointed out that dumpsites contribute to water and soil contamination. The Secretary-General advocated for a shift from merely managing waste to actively preventing it, promoting a circular economy, and curbing unchecked methane pollution. He also called for increased financing for cities to enhance waste collection, composting, and circular infrastructure. Additionally, Guterres urged countries to halve global food waste by 2030 and establish a global near-zero methane standard for the oil and gas industry.
