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This policy brief examines the impact of plastic pollution on Canada's freshwater systems, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby exacerbating the litter problem. It advocates for a transition from a linear to a circular economy and urges the Canadian government to implement a zero plastic waste strategy.

The report proposes a new global Convention on Plastic Pollution to address the full lifecycle of plastics, from production and design to waste management. It argues that existing international instruments are fragmented and insufficient to tackle the transboundary crisis of plastic pollution, which causes an estimated $13 billion in annual environmental damage to marine ecosystems.

This executive summary from the Center for International Environmental Law details how the lifecycle of plastic—from fossil fuel extraction to waste management—contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, threatening the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.

This fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) details how the lifecycle of plastic—from fossil fuel extraction to disposal—contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and threatens the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

This briefing proposes a new global Convention on Plastic Pollution to address the fragmented nature of existing international and regional frameworks. It outlines a multi-layered governance approach based on four pillars: coordination with existing agreements, pollution prevention through harmonization and control measures, capacity building and financial support for developing countries, and technical support for science-based decision-making. The document suggests an institutional architecture led by a Conference of the Parties and supported by a secretariat hosted by UN Environment, alongside specialized subsidiary bodies for funding, compliance, and knowledge exchange.

This background report, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre for the BLASTIC project, identifies and classifies the land-based sources and pathways of macroplastic marine litter (>25 mm) to assist municipalities in developing monitoring programmes and action plans, with a specific focus on the Baltic Sea region.

An open letter from a coalition of organizations and individuals to Canadian ministers urging the expansion of the single-use plastics ban to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030.

This briefing note from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines recommendations to strengthen Bill S-5, which aims to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The document advocates for reinforcing the right to a healthy environment and implementing stricter chemical management regulations to better protect public health and the environment.

This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the obligations of OECD members regarding the trade of plastic wastes following the OECD's failure to reach a consensus on incorporating the Basel Convention's Plastic Waste Amendments into the OECD Decision on the trade of wastes. The analysis concludes that plastic wastes classified as "other wastes" under the Basel Convention fall outside the scope of the OECD Decision, meaning OECD members who are Parties to the Basel Convention must apply Basel's control and prohibition mechanisms. CIEL further argues that separate agreements, such as those between the US and Canada or within the EU, fail to meet the equivalence requirements of Article 11 of the Basel Convention and are therefore invalid for bypassing Basel controls.

An open letter from various environmental organizations urging Basel Convention delegates to support a Norwegian proposal to increase controls on the transboundary movement of plastic waste by amending the Convention's annexes.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to waste disposal. It warns that planned expansions in the petrochemical and plastics industries threaten the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 °C, as plastic-related emissions could consume a significant portion of the remaining global carbon budget by 2050.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the full life cycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to waste management and environmental degradation. It warns that planned expansions in plastic production threaten the global goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C, projecting that cumulative emissions could consume up to 13% of the remaining carbon budget by 2050.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the inclusion of trade-related measures as core obligations in a proposed international treaty to end plastic pollution. It highlights the scale of global plastics trade, examines how previous Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) have used trade provisions to achieve environmental goals, and proposes specific trade mechanisms—such as bans, permits, and reporting requirements—to ensure the efficacy of the plastics treaty.

This fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law describes the systemic health risks associated with the entire life cycle of plastics, from feedstock extraction to waste management. It argues that plastic is a "global health crisis" that disproportionately affects marginalized communities and calls for comprehensive reduction of plastic production rather than piecemeal solutions.

This fact sheet provides a comparison table tracking the evolution of the proposed structure for a future plastics treaty across several iterations: the Zero Draft (INC 3), the INC 4 Compilation, and three versions of the Chair's Potential Structure (V.1, V.2, and V.3).

This fact sheet outlines a proposed structural and conceptual framework for a Convention on Plastic Pollution, organized into four 'pillars of action' to address monitoring, prevention, coordination, and support.

The policy brief outlines strategies to ensure the 'widest and most effective participation possible' in the negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution. It identifies systemic barriers in current UN processes—such as restrictive accreditation, limited speaking rights, language gaps, and lack of funding—and recommends adopting more open models (like the Escazú Agreement) to include frontline stakeholders, including waste pickers, Indigenous Peoples, and youth.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law outlines recommendations for ensuring the meaningful and effective involvement of stakeholders during the intergovernmental negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the obligations of OECD members regarding the trade of plastic wastes following the OECD's failure to reach a consensus on incorporating the Basel Plastic Amendments into the OECD Wastes Trade Decision. The analysis concludes that plastic wastes designated as "other wastes" under the Basel Convention have fallen outside the scope of the OECD Decision, requiring OECD members who are Basel parties to apply Basel's control and ban mechanisms. CIEL further argues that recent arrangements between the US and Canada, and within the European Union, fail to meet the requirements of Article 11 of the Basel Convention and are therefore invalid as alternatives to Basel controls.

This statement from the Center for International Environmental Law argues that plastic pollution is a global crisis driven by increasing production and inadequate waste management. It calls for a new global governance agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, moving beyond a focus on marine litter to include legally binding targets for production reduction, toxic chemical elimination, and the rejection of 'false solutions' like incineration.