Sea Change: Advancing a Strong UN Plastics Treaty

Healthy oceans are critical to life on Earth, providing vast psychological and social benefits in addition to sustaining physical life. But the oceans are facing a crisis—harmed by emissions from fossil fuel extraction and plastic production and widespread pollution at sea. Each year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the oceans, with an estimated 170 trillion microplastics now circulating within them. Half of all sea turtles have likely ingested plastic, and by 2050, nearly all seabirds may too. In honor of World Oceans Day in June, we hosted a timely conversation with leading scientists, advocates, and policy experts on the path to a strong United Nations Global Plastics Treaty, with a special focus on how the treaty may affect the world’s oceans. With the next negotiating round set for August 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, and just ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, this webinar will explore what’s at stake in the treaty negotiations, the barriers to progress, and what world leaders must do to protect the oceans from plastics and other harms. Joining the discussion was: Christopher Chin, Founder and Executive Director, COARE; Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead, Greenpeace; and Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul. The webinar was moderated by Kathryn Nelson, Plastic Free Mermaid.