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

Conclusion 5.

Marine plastic pollution is an issue with a long history, but recognition of the need for a dedicated international response to the problem has intensified over the past few years, and support has recently been growing for the consideration of a new global agreement dedicated to addressing the issue of marine plastic

pollution. At the time of writing, no formal mandate for negotiations has been adopted, but discussions among States and other stakeholders have been taking place in various forums and at various levels. This report aims to contribute to these discussions by providing an overview of relevant events, resources, and frameworks, and to present some options and questions

Identifying the national policy measures that would, if they are faithfully implemented, achieve the goal of zero discharge of plastics into the marine environment, is a crucial step in the elaboration of a new agreement.

for consideration that States and other stakeholders can draw on in their efforts to explore what a new treaty on marine plastic pollution could look like. In doing so, it highlights some of the typical challenges involved in the elaboration and design of multilateral agreements. It also illustrates, through the use of examples, how some of these challenges have been dealt with in other international agreements. Of these challenges, incentivizing participation in and compliance with a new agreement is considered to be of particular importance. Identifying the national policy measures that would, if they are faithfully implemented, achieve the goal of zero discharge of plastics into the marine environment, is a crucial step in the elaboration of a new agreement. However, these measures will not produce the

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