Bath MP wants leadership to be shown by Government at UN global plastics treaty negotiations

Liberal Democrat MP for Bath Wera Hobhouse has urged the Government to take a strong stance at this week’s UN global plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva.

The talks, which started on Tuesday last until the 14th, bring together representatives from over 170 countries and aim to finalise a legally-binding treaty to address plastic pollution.

The Bath MP raised the issue in Parliament last month, highlighting the scale of this crisis as global plastic production and waste have doubled in the last 20 years.

Hobhouse commented:

“The UK public overwhelmingly supports bold action on plastic pollution. People are counting on their government to stand up to powerful corporate interests and support a treaty that puts people and the planet first.

“This treaty must include a strong funding mechanism to support lower-income countries, and uphold the ‘polluter pays’ principle, placing the burden where it belongs: on the plastics industry that has profited from this crisis for decades. Though, of course, it’s imperative we bring industry with us, to create practical and workable solutions that will not fail.

“We cannot afford business-as-usual. If world leaders can look the next generation in the eye and say they acted decisively this week, it could mark a real turning point in the fight against plastic pollution.”