Geneva, 29 December 2021 (TDI): Several key members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) put forth a ministerial statement on sustainability and trade, which promised to put environmental concerns at the heart of future trade discussions.
This statement is a result of informal dialogue on plastic pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade which took place earlier in November 2021.
#ICYMI: 🎥 Highlights of the press conference by the co-coordinators of the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP) on 15 December #TradeandEnvironment. Ministerial statement on IDP 👉 https://t.co/TBVSKcplsO pic.twitter.com/IvjkgfEvRY
— WTO (@wto) December 26, 2021
The ministerial statement notes that plastic trade accounts for roughly 5% of global trade which translates to about 1 trillion USD. These figures are 40% higher than what was previously estimated, with even more plastic trade still unaccounted for.
The text also brings to light the adverse effects of plastic pollution on ocean and sea environments as well as small island developing states (SIDS) and the challenges faced by developing and least-developed members to address these concerns.
It also recognizes that several discussions, processes, and efforts have taken place on both a domestic and international level to address plastic pollution including the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) and its plastic waste amendments.
It also highlights the need for cooperation among these processes in order to promote efficiency and prevent overlap of efforts. The statement also highlights a number of mutual understandings amongst the members that include;
- The need to lessen plastic trade and develop trade policies that address plastic pollution.
- The need for a move towards more sustainable plastic trade.
- The need to adopt substitutes that are effective and sustainable.
The statement also calls to promote an environmentally sustainable plastics sector while also identifying activities that improve data procurement on supply chains and trade flows
The members called on other nations to join this ministerial statement for continued progress and to enhance cooperation on implementing actions of the statement.
