Ireland, as part of the High Ambition Coalition, is well-placed to push for a treaty that tackles the root causes of the plastic crisis. We are calling on the Government to champion a treaty that includes legally binding measures across the full life cycle of plastics; from production to disposal.

Key recommendations in our letter include:

• Reduction in plastic production through global caps and targets to limit emissions and resource use.
• Regulation and phase-out of harmful chemicals commonly used in plastics, based on the precautionary principle.
• Bans on problematic and unnecessary plastic products, particularly single-use items, with support for safe and accessible alternatives.
• Stronger design standards to ensure products are reusable, recyclable, and less toxic.
• Support for reuse systems as a central solution to reducing plastic waste and emissions.
• A dedicated financial mechanism to help countries implement treaty obligations, based on the polluter pays principle.
• Efficient decision-making processes to avoid obstruction by a small number of countries.

We urge Ireland to align its global advocacy with its national climate and circular economy goals, and help ensure the treaty becomes a powerful tool in solving one of the defining environmental issues of our time.

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