What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to identify effective strategies for a global plastics treaty that promotes environmental health.

June 19, 2026Open Access

Health and plastics: avenues for strengthening the plastics treaty

SBSimon BeaudoinUniversity of British Columbia Hospital PDPeter DauvergneUniversity of British Columbia

Key Points

The aim is to identify effective strategies for a global plastics treaty that promotes environmental health.
Identified four promising approaches to enhance the treaty's effectiveness against plastic pollution.
Engaged stakeholders in discussions to shape treaty negotiations.
Reviewed the role of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in guiding treaty developments.
Highlighted four strategies to reinforce treaty capacity: regulatory frameworks, innovation incentives, international collaboration, and public engagement.
Showed the importance of strong governance mechanisms in treaty success.
Found that effective negotiation leadership is crucial for treaty advancement.

Abstract

On March 2, 2022, the UN Environment Assembly launched a process to negotiate a legally binding global plastics treaty by the end of 2024.1 Despite several rounds of negotiations, the treaty process is still under way. In February 2026, Chilean Ambassador Julio Cordano was elected as the new chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution and was tasked with guiding negotiations on the global plastics treaty. Ahead of upcoming meetings, and as parties consider the best ways forward, we present four promising avenues for strengthening the capacity of a plastics treaty to protect planetary health (panel).

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