Exploring the Option of a New Global Agreement on Marine Plastic Pollution – A Guide to the Issues

Abstract There is a growing body of evidence showing the devastating impact of marine plastic pollution. Over the past couple of years, an increasing number of States have signalled that a new global agreement might be needed to effectively address the problem. At the time of writing, no formal mandate for negotiations has been adopted, yet States and other actors have been considering the merits and possible scope and parameters of a new global agreement. Discussions are taking place in various forums and at various levels. The purpose of this report is to contribute to these discussions by providing an overview of relevant events, policy gaps, resources, and frameworks, and to present options and questions that States and other stakeholders can draw on in their efforts to explore what a new treaty on marine plastic pollution could look like.