UN Countries Agree 'to End Plastic Pollution'
2022-03-04
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1United Nations countries have agreed to create a treaty that deals with plastic pollution in the world's oceans, rivers and land.
2The U.N. Environment Assembly voted Wednesday at its meeting in Kenya's capital Nairobi for a resolution "to end plastic pollution."
3It is the beginning of international negotiations designed to produce a treaty by 2024.
4"Today we wrote history. Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," said Espen Barth Eide.
5He is Norway's minister for environment and climate and the assembly's president.
6"With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure," he added.
7Negotiators debated on the resolution for a week.
8Plans presented by Peru, Rwanda, India and Japan were used as the basis for a global plan to prevent and reduce plastic pollution.
9The treaty would cover the production, design and removal of plastics.
10"It is not always you get such a major environment deal," said Inger Andersen.
11She is executive director of the U.N. Environment Program.
12Andersen called the agreement by representatives of 175 member countries "the most significant global environmental governance decision since the Paris (Climate) Agreement in 2015."
13A recent study by the Pew Research Center says that the worldwide plastic industry is valued at $522.6 billion.
14The study also reported that 11 million metric tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year.
15The environmental group Greenpeace said the U.N. decision is a "big, bold step to end plastic pollution."
16Graham Forbes is head of the global plastics project at Greenpeace USA.
17He said that until a strong international treaty is signed, the organization and its allies will keep working toward a world free of plastic pollution.
18"This is a big step that will keep the pressure on big oil and big brands to reduce their plastic footprint and switch their business models to refill and reuse," Forbes said.
19I'm Jonathan Evans.
1United Nations countries have agreed to create a treaty that deals with plastic pollution in the world's oceans, rivers and land. 2The U.N. Environment Assembly voted Wednesday at its meeting in Kenya's capital Nairobi for a resolution "to end plastic pollution." 3It is the beginning of international negotiations designed to produce a treaty by 2024. 4"Today we wrote history. Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," said Espen Barth Eide. He is Norway's minister for environment and climate and the assembly's president. "With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure," he added. 5Negotiators debated on the resolution for a week. Plans presented by Peru, Rwanda, India and Japan were used as the basis for a global plan to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. 6The treaty would cover the production, design and removal of plastics. 7"It is not always you get such a major environment deal," said Inger Andersen. She is executive director of the U.N. Environment Program. Andersen called the agreement by representatives of 175 member countries "the most significant global environmental governance decision since the Paris (Climate) Agreement in 2015." 8A recent study by the Pew Research Center says that the worldwide plastic industry is valued at $522.6 billion. The study also reported that 11 million metric tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. 9The environmental group Greenpeace said the U.N. decision is a "big, bold step to end plastic pollution." 10Graham Forbes is head of the global plastics project at Greenpeace USA. He said that until a strong international treaty is signed, the organization and its allies will keep working toward a world free of plastic pollution. 11"This is a big step that will keep the pressure on big oil and big brands to reduce their plastic footprint and switch their business models to refill and reuse," Forbes said. 12I'm Jonathan Evans. 13Wanjohi Kabukuru reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. 14Words in This Story 15significant - adj. important 16bold - adj. showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit 17brand - n. a category of goods identified by a name as being made by a certain company