Nearly nine in 10 Australians support a global treaty to combat plastic pollution, while almost 80 per cent think single-use plastics should be banned as soon as possible, according to a new global survey by WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation.
Global market researcher Ipsos polled over 20,000 people across 28 countries, including Australia, in the first comprehensive survey on the need for a plastic pollution treaty with the goal of ending plastic pollution.
The survey results come ahead of the UN Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi next week, when Australia and other nations will consider whether to start negotiations on a plastic pollution treaty.
“We know people are extremely concerned about the growing plastic pollution crisis. Last year, 3.3 million Australians took part in Plastic Free July, but individual action is not enough,” said Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder and executive director, Plastic Free Foundation.
The survey shows 86 per cent of Australians think a plastic pollution treaty is important, with a third saying it is essential. Globally, it found nearly 88 per cent found a treaty necessaryto address the crisis.
There were also high levels of public support for the phase-out of problematic plastics, with 77 per cent of Australians saying single-use plastics should be banned as soon as possible, and 82 per cent declaring they want to buy products that use as little plastic packaging as possible.
The survey also found 86 per cent of Australians think manufacturers and retailers should be made responsible for reducing, reusing and recycling plastic packaging.
These demands are in line with a full lifecycle approach to the management of plastic consumption and pollution, which Peru and Rwanda have proposed to nations to consider at the UN Environment Assembly.
“We need an ambitious mandate and targets that reframe our relationship with plastics so that people’s health and the environment are not at risk from plastic pollution,” Prince-Ruiz added.
“This survey is a clear call by Australians and people from all corners of the world that they want their governments to act now.”
A recent WWF-commissioned review found that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the world’s oceans, with at least 2144 species suffering from plastic pollution in their habitat, and notes that without action, ocean plastic pollution will quadruple by 2050.
Pressure has been mounting on governments for a legally binding treaty to address this plastic pollution crisis, and more than 2.2 million people have signed a WWF petition, while over 120 global companies and more than 1000 civil society organisations have also backed calls for a treaty.
The Australian government supports efforts to develop a binding global agreement to combat plastic pollution, but has not yet co-sponsored a draft resolution that would formally start the treaty development process.
Kate Noble, WWF-Australia’s No Plastics in Nature policy manager, called on the Australian government to co-sponsor a strong draft resolution at the UN Environment Assembly, and play a proactive role in developing a legally binding global treaty.
“Australians have made their views clear. The onus is now on our government to help deliver a treaty with teeth that puts us on a pathway to ending plastic pollution by 2030,” Noble continued.
“We cannot afford to settle for anything less. Every year, Australia lets 130,000 tonnes of plastic flow into our oceans and this goes on to indiscriminately kill marine mammals, birds and other creatures.”
Noble believes that to regenerate Australia and build a more sustainable future, we need to address the plastics and processes that are polluting our environment and threatening our wildlife.
“We know how to stop plastic pollution and we know the cost of inaction will come at the expense of our beautiful beaches and marine wildlife. There is no excuse for delaying a global treaty to tackle this crisis,” Noble concluded.
The report on the global survey, Rising tides: Public opinion overwhelmingly supports a UN plastic pollution treaty, is available here.
