Distinguished Chair and Members of the INC,
We represent a group of independent scientists mobilized by the International Science Council, the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, delegates from the Global Council for Science and the Environment, lead authors of the report of the Minderoo Monaco Commission on Plastic and Human Health, Endocrine Society, Food Packaging Forum, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at University of California Santa Barbara, and Monterey Bay Aquarium. The International Science Council represents over 245 national scientific academies, regional scientific organizations, international scientific disciplinary unions and associations, and the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty has more than 300 individual members from 50 countries. We are raising our voices together at the start of INC-3 to call attention to the lack of a clear and formal platform for independent scientists to contribute their knowledge and expertise to members and the INC process.
You can read the full letter submitted at INC-3 on November 11, 2023, below.
Distinguished Chair and Members of the INC, We represent a group of independent scientists mobilized by the International Science Council, the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, delegates from the Global Council for Science and the Environment, lead authors of the report of the Minderoo Monaco Commission on Plastic and Human Health, Endocrine Society,[…]
Response to the Zero Draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (UNEP/PP/INC.3/4) The Scientists’ Coalition present our reflections and contributions to the Zero Draft text. Download the full response (english) We highlight the following five key requirements: Time-bound, legally-binding primary plastic polymer reduction targets for each[…]
There are no internationally agreed definitions of plastics alternatives nor plastics substitutes. Sound definitions will support fully informed treaty negotiations, and this fact sheet introduces key distinctions and considerations. Download PDF
This fact sheet is intended to support fully informed global plastics treaty negotiations by clarifying the terminology used to describe plastics as “polymers” or “materials” and not plastics as “products”. In other words, this fact sheet explains plastics as the material that is produced and later manufactured into, for example, drink bottles, or takeaway containers.[…]
Plastic Removal Technologies (PRTs) promise to improve environmental quality by removing plastics from the environment, but they can also threaten biodiversity. Almost no environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are done on PRTs. Unselective PRTs can alter habitats and catch plants and animals. Manual collection selectively removes plastic, but it is limited in efficiency and effectiveness. Municipalities[…]