La voie vers un traité sur la pollution (marine) par les plastiques

The document discusses the path toward a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution, following the adoption of UN Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14 in March 2022. It highlights the shift in perception of plastic pollution from a purely marine issue to a terrestrial one and emphasizes the need for the treaty to address the entire plastic lifecycle, including the limitation of virgin plastic production and the creation of a sustainable circular economy. The author argues that the treaty must resolve regulatory gaps in the international waste trade, where developed nations often export plastic waste to poorer countries under the guise of recycling. To avoid past failures seen in chemical and electronic waste treaties, the document advocates for the integration of the World Trade Organization's Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastic Trade into the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's process.

• In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted Resolution 5/14, which establishes an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
• While plastic pollution was initially viewed as a marine issue focused on beach and ocean cleanups, it is now recognized as a terrestrial problem.
• To be effective, the future treaty must address the root causes of pollution by limiting or eliminating virgin plastic production, managing the 7 billion tonnes of existing plastic waste through a recycling industry, and establishing a sustainable circular economy.
• The international trade of plastic waste is characterized by a flow from wealthy nations to poorer ones, often lacking international control and relying on bilateral agreements that may lead to waste dumping.
• The collapse of the plastic waste trade was triggered in December 2017 when China banned plastic waste imports through its 'National Sword' policy, which disrupted global trade and shifted the burden to other importing countries.
• In 2020, Japan, the United States, and France were the primary sources of plastic waste and debris, while Turkey, Malaysia, and Vietnam were the main net importers.
• The author argues that the treaty's success depends on bridging the gap between environmental and trade policies, specifically suggesting that the WTO's Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastic Trade (DIP) should participate in the INC negotiations.

APA

Kantai, T. (n.d.). La voie vers un traité sur la pollution (marine) par les plastiques. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/la-voie-vers-un-traite-sur-la-pollution-marine-par-les-plastiques

Chicago

Kantai, Tallash. La voie vers un traité sur la pollution (marine) par les plastiques. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/la-voie-vers-un-traite-sur-la-pollution-marine-par-les-plastiques.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kantai |first1=Tallash |title=La voie vers un traité sur la pollution (marine) par les plastiques |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/la-voie-vers-un-traite-sur-la-pollution-marine-par-les-plastiques |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kantaindvoie, author = {Kantai, Tallash}, title = {{La voie vers un traité sur la pollution (marine) par les plastiques}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/la-voie-vers-un-traite-sur-la-pollution-marine-par-les-plastiques}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }