Global: At the recent meeting of the Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international treaty on ending plastic pollution, held in Ottawa, countries made progress in identifying the types of plastics that should be prohibited globally, media
reports. Among the items that topped the list were cigarette filters. At the meeting, Peru, Panama, and Switzerland urged for a ban on cigarette filters, a call which was also supported by the World Health Organization. It was stated that recycling cigarette filters is not a viable solution, and it is essential to focus on human rights and demand a healthy environment. The list of plastics to be banned will be finalised at INC-5, starting 25th November 2024, in Busan, South Korea.