48 million health professionals demand no exemtions for health care at global plastics treaty
As delegates gather in Geneva for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) to finalize a global treaty to end plastic pollution, over 48 million health professionals, patients, and allies have united to deliver a clear message: Plastic pollution is a public health emergency - the health sector cannot be given a free pass.
In an open letter submitted to the International Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, Health Care Without Harm and its partners, including the World Medical Association and the International Council of Nurses, are calling for an end to the exemption of healthcare from the plastics treaty. The signatories instead demand special considerations that hold the sector accountable for its role in plastic pollution.
ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano commented:
“As outlined in ICN’s recent Position Statement and Topic Brief, climate change is the single greatest health threat facing humanity, with profound implications for human health and well-being.
'Every day, nurses witness the harms caused by plastic overuse and pollution to both human and planetary health. Many of the chemicals in plastics contribute to issues including respiratory problems and chronic illnesses, with vulnerable populations especially at risk, and unsustainable plastic use and pollution is a major contributor to wider environmental degradation.
'For these reasons, ICN is coming together with Health Care without Harm and other leading health groups to call for a strong treaty that fully recognizes the health harms of plastic pollution and commits to decisive measures to reduce unnecessary plastic use and move towards more sustainable solutions, including in the health sector, with special consideration for this sector’s needs. The health sector must lead by example, not exemption, by promoting a just and viable transition to environmentally-friendly practices."
Read the press release from Health Care Without Harm