Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, took part in high-level ministerial consultations at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, where global momentum for a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution was the focus of in-depth discussions. Meeting alongside ministers from Germany, Norway, Mexico, Rwanda, France, Gambia, Chile, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, Fouad expressed Egypt's support for the proposed treaty and welcomed the increasing number of informal consultations aimed at fostering consensus and accelerating progress. Timed to coincide with World Oceans Day on 8 June, the meeting sought to consolidate national positions ahead of the fifth and final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), due to be held in Geneva in August 2025. The treaty is expected to tackle the full lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal, in an effort to curb global plastic pollution. Fouad emphasised the importance of flexibility in the treaty's implementation, calling for the recognition of differing national contexts—social, economic, and environmental. "It is vital that the treaty allows countries to meet their obligations in ways that reflect their specific realities," she stated. Reaffirming Egypt's stance on key provisions, Fouad raised concerns over Article 3 of the draft text, cautioning against the imposition of global obligations without corresponding technical support. On Article 6, which pertains to reducing plastic production, she called for clearer implementation mechanisms that take into account the socio-economic ramifications for countries with significant plastics industries. She further underlined the necessity of a robust and accessible financial mechanism to support the treaty's goals, particularly in facilitating technology transfer and the development of viable alternatives to plastic. "Ambition must be backed by action—especially when it comes to financing," she said. "Developing countries, already burdened by climate change and biodiversity loss, cannot be expected to shoulder this alone." Fouad also noted the repeated delays in finalising the treaty—including at the fifth INC session in December 2024 and previous discussions at the UN Environment Assembly in 2022—as evidence of the urgent need for compromise on complex issues such as hazardous chemicals, sustainable production and consumption, and equitable financing arrangements. "The success of this treaty will be a measure of the multilateral system's ability to deliver real solutions to real problems," Fouad said, describing plastic pollution as "a global threat requiring a global response". This year's UN Ocean Conference aims to accelerate international efforts to protect marine biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of ocean resources in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Delegates are advocating for science-based solutions and greater integration of ocean science into global environmental policymaking. Fouad concluded by urging negotiators to seize the opportunity presented by the upcoming INC-5 talks. "This is our chance to show unity and ambition in tackling one of the most pervasive environmental challenges of our time," she said.
