The Roles of Cities, Industries, and Public as Stakeholders in Combating Marine Plastic Pollution within the Framework of the Emerging Plastic Regime (Plastic treaty) Why are these stakeholders relevant and how should they be included in the plastic regime

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution presents a critical issue that impacts numerous nations and populations. Various international treaties currently address different sources of marine pollution, primarily structured around a conventional state-centric conception. Despite these efforts, these frameworks have not successfully prevented the influx of plastic waste into marine ecosystems. To date, no single treaty comprehensively regulates the entire lifecycle of plastics. The ongoing negotiations for a new plastic treaty present a significant opportunity for the involvement of non-state actors in both the negotiation and subsequent implementation phases of the treaty. This thesis will explore the pivotal roles that non-state actors—specifically cities, industries, and the public—play as key stakeholders, and will argue for their essential inclusion in the emerging plastic regulatory framework.