Christophe Clergeau, Member of the European Parliament, told The Brussels Morning Newspaper that urgent, coordinated action on plastic pollution is more critical than ever, following the breakdown of recent international treaty talks. This interview highlights the MEP’s insistence that settling for watered-down solutions would be irresponsible, and he calls for bold leadership and concrete measures at the European and global level.
The failure of the latest international negotiations on a plastic treaty exposes significant obstacles to tackling global plastic pollution. Christophe Clergeau stressed to The Brussels Morning Newspaper that the lack of a robust agreement mainly results from the influence of petrochemical lobbies and oil-producing states, which caused governments to shy away from the commitments needed to make real progress.
He asserted,
“Our minimum demand was simple: to commit to reducing plastic production and to eliminate hazardous substances. But no robust agreement could be reached, and it would have been irresponsible to settle for a watered-down text”.
Christophe Clergeau is a Member of the European Parliament, renowned for his active stance on environmental issues and his advocacy for stronger European leadership in global sustainability efforts. Throughout his political career, Clergeau has prioritized climate action and policies limiting hazardous materials, making him a vocal participant in international treaty negotiations.
In his Facebook post, Christophe Clergeau underscores the urgent need for global action to combat plastic pollution and the vital role Europe must play in leading these efforts.
Key Obstacles in Treaty Negotiations
Responding to The Brussels Morning Newspaper’s question on the obstacles behind the failed plastic treaty talks, the MEP explained,
“Under pressure from petrochemical lobbies and oil-producing states, governments failed to agree on a treaty up to the challenge. We already saw this dynamic at play during the Busan conference in South Korea. With today’s geopolitical tensions, international conferences of this kind are struggling to deliver the global solutions that are urgently needed.”
Clergeau made it clear that settling for a weak agreement would not address the urgent need for global solutions.
Role of European Policymakers, Scientists, and NGOs
Asked about the future strategy against plastic pollution, Clergeau emphasized continued European leadership and broader citizen mobilization:
“The breakdown of the international plastic treaty negotiations is a setback, but it is not the end of the fight. Both citizen mobilization and European leadership must continue. The stakes could not be higher,”
He told The Brussels Morning Newspaper.
The MEP highlighted alarming facts:
“Since 1950, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced. The trend is clear: consumption is rising across all uses, and global production could triple by 2060. The consequences are well-documented. A new report estimates the global health costs of plastics at $15 trillion. PFAS, microplastics, hormonal and neurological disorders: the warnings are piling up.”
Clergeau called for action rooted in science and collaboration:
“Our starting point remains the same: we must listen to science and act together with civil society and decision makers. This must be the foundation on which we build the next phase of action”.
Concrete European and Global Actions
On which measures should be prioritized, Clergeau urged bold steps from European institutions and partners:
“This is why the coalition of the most ambitious countries must press ahead and Europe must lead. We can act now and lead by example in tackling plastic pollution: by making eco-design and reuse part of our daily lives, drastically restricting the use of microplastics, eliminating hazardous substances used in plastics such as lead or endocrine disruptors, and effectively banning the import of products that do not comply with these principles.”
He warned against relying solely on recycling:
“Recycling alone is not enough. The real emergency is to break with the ‘all-plastic’ model promoted by the petrochemical industry and to drastically reduce global plastic production before it triples by 2060 if nothing is done”.
Christophe Clergeau’s statement to The Brussels Morning Newspaper underscores a call to action for both European policymakers and global partners, emphasizing that only robust, science-based, and united policies can effectively tackle the plastic crisis before it escalates further.
