‘Global deal on plastic pollution is urgent’

Bangladesh is committed to supporting the Global Plastic Treaty in the upcoming United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has said.

The minister said this at a virtual policy dialogue organized by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) on Saturday.

The dialogue discussed the issues regarding the Global Plastic Treaty approach in UNEA 5.2.

The minister said, “The Government of Bangladesh participated actively in the previous sessions. We will take part in the upcoming fifth UN Environment Assembly. It will take place in 2022 to discuss the possible head start of negotiations of a global agreement to curb plastic pollution. We are hoping that countries from all over the world will support the requirement for a global agreement, which will lead to the proposal requests an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a new legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. It will be established at UNEA 5.2.”

According to panelists David Azoulay, Geneva Managing Attorney, Director of Environmental Health Program, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), “Bangladesh Govt. needs to focus particularly on waste fishing gear and the cheap plastic use in textile industries for the upcoming negotiation;”

“Solo initiatives cannot combat the global crisis. We must follow how other nations are intervening regarding this matter and work together to achieve a reduction in plastic pollution which will lead us to a global agreement”, said the ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, ITO Naoki.

ESDO chairperson, Syed Marghub Murshed said, “It is really concerning because Bangladesh is one of the most plastic-polluted countries in South Asia. Plastic has a significant environmental impact.