Egypt Reaffirms Support for Global Plastics Treaty at UN Oceans Summit

Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, participated in high-level ministerial consultations at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, focusing on a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. Meeting alongside ministers from 11 countries, Fouad expressed Egypt's support for the proposed treaty and emphasized the importance of flexibility in its implementation, recognizing differing national contexts. Egypt also raised concerns over specific provisions in the draft text and called for a robust and accessible financial mechanism to support the treaty's goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, participated in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
• The conference focused on a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, with Egypt expressing support for the proposed treaty.
• Fouad emphasized the importance of flexibility in the treaty's implementation, recognizing differing national contexts.
• Egypt raised concerns over Article 3 of the draft text, cautioning against the imposition of global obligations without corresponding technical support.
• Fouad called for clearer implementation mechanisms for Article 6, which pertains to reducing plastic production, and took into account the socio-economic ramifications.
• The success of the treaty will be a measure of the multilateral system's ability to deliver real solutions to real problems.
• Egypt urged negotiators to seize the opportunity presented by the upcoming Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) talks.
• The treaty aims to tackle the full lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal, and is expected to consolidate national positions ahead of the fifth and final session of the INC-5 in August 2025.

Statistics:

• 11 countries participated in the high-level ministerial consultations alongside Egypt, including Germany, Norway, Mexico, Rwanda, France, Gambia, Chile, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
• The United Nations Ocean Conference aims to accelerate international efforts to protect marine biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of ocean resources in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• The treaty is expected to consolidate national positions ahead of the fifth and final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in August 2025.

Sources:

• "Egypt reaffirms support for global plastics treaty at UN Oceans Summit" - No specific date, appeared on Dailynewsegypt..