Geneva: With the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) on Plastic Pollution underway in Geneva, Switzerland, South Africa has reaffirmed its support for a legally binding global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is already harming communities, economies, and ecosystems-from land to rivers to oceans. “Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue. It affects public health, sustainable development, and the future of our oceans. We must act now,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, said on Monday.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister is leading the South African delegation that is attending the second part of the INC 5.2 on Plastic Pollution. This session is a critical opportunity to finalize a legally binding global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. George reaffirmed South Africa’s strong support for urgent and coordinated international action to end plastic pollution across its full life
cycle.

Global plastic production has grown rapidly, from two million tonnes in 1950 to 475 million tonnes in 2022. Without urgent intervention, South Africa’s plastic pollution is expected to nearly double by 2040 compared to 2020 levels. In response, South Africa has moved to ban plastic microbeads. Draft regulations have been signed and are set to be published for public comment. These regulations aim to prohibit the manufacture, import, export, sale, and distribution of microbeads and products containing them.

“South Africa is acting with urgency to address this crisis. But no country can solve it alone. We need global cooperation, innovation, and ambition,” George said. The INC process was established by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2022, following the adoption of a resolution to develop a treaty addressing plastic pollution, including marine plastic.

While the first part of INC 5 took place in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November 2024, a final agreement was not reached, and negotiation
s have resumed in Geneva. The expected treaty will cover the full life cycle of plastics, from production and design to disposal. It will also align with existing global commitments on climate change, biodiversity, and chemical safety.