Shaping a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, took part in a ministerial consultative meeting aboard the historic Norwegian ship “Statsraad Lehmkuhl,” held during the third United Nations Ocean Conference. The gathering brought together ministers from Germany, Norway, Mexico, Rwanda, France, Gambia, Chile, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The conference, jointly organized by the governments of France and Costa Rica and coinciding with World Oceans Day on June 8, marks a critical juncture in global efforts to protect marine ecosystems. Dr. Fouad underscored the strategic importance of these ministerial dialogues in narrowing negotiation gaps ahead of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) scheduled for August 2025 in Geneva.
“These discussions are essential to aligning the diverse needs and capacities of countries as we edge closer to a historic global agreement,” said Dr. Fouad. “We must ensure that the treaty allows for flexible implementation based on national contexts, without compromising its ambition.”
Egypt’s Position: Balancing Ambition with Equity
During the consultations, Dr. Fouad elaborated on Egypt’s stance regarding several contentious clauses of the proposed treaty, including Article 3 on overarching definitions and scope, and Article 6 concerning the reduction of plastic production. She emphasized the need for:
- Enhanced clarity on implementation mechanisms that ensure alignment with socio-economic realities, especially for developing nations.
- Technical support infrastructure to guarantee the effectiveness of anti-pollution measures.
- A pragmatic approach that doesn’t enforce universal actions without acknowledging varying capacities and developmental challenges.
She further highlighted the risks of imposing rigid frameworks without first establishing accessible technical and financial means to support compliance.
A Call for a Robust and Equitable Financing Framework
Dr. Fouad stressed that achieving a robust and inclusive treaty hinges on the establishment of a flexible financing mechanism. This mechanism, she asserted, should not only draw from public and international funds and private sector investment but must also:
- Facilitate access to clean technologies and scalable alternatives to conventional plastic.
- Uphold the financial commitments of developed countries, avoiding undue pressure on developing nations already burdened by intersecting environmental crises—ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss.
“To move forward, the treaty must reflect a shared responsibility model that enables real progress without exacerbating global inequality,” she stated.
Toward a Multilateral Environmental Breakthrough
Dr. Fouad reiterated that a successful agreement on a global plastics treaty would serve as a powerful validation of multilateralism, showcasing the United Nations’ ability to craft decisive international legal instruments for pressing environmental challenges.
However, she cautioned that progress remains contingent upon consensus on the three most polarizing elements:
- Chemicals and products involved in plastic production.
- Sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Equitable financing mechanisms for implementation.
Given the stalemate at the UN Environment Assembly in March 2022 and the lack of agreement during the fifth INC session in December 2024, the upcoming negotiations in Geneva represent a critical opportunity to reignite momentum and finalize the treaty text.
Background on the UN Ocean Conference
The UN Ocean Conference aims to accelerate global efforts to safeguard oceans and marine ecosystems while promoting sustainable use and conservation practices. It is a key platform for aligning scientific knowledge with policy, in support of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14—“Life Below Water.”
