Distinguished Executive Director Inger Andersen,
Ministers, and other representatives:
The Cuban Constitution recognizes and protects the right of all people to enjoy a healthy and balanced environment.
In this context, Cuba has established the legal basis to prevent and address plastic pollution. It has a plan of 11 actions aimed at promoting the replacement of certain single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives and increasing public awareness and participation in reducing pollution.
The implementation of this plan has allowed us to begin raising consumer awareness and stimulating the development of plastic waste recycling activities.
Today, more than 20 companies are participating, recovering hundreds of tons for the production of plastic lumber. Between 2023 and 2024, the recovery of single-use plastic packaging increased more than 60-fold as a result of the implementation of extended producer responsibility.
Despite the indisputable progress, significant obstacles remain to be overcome, which are exacerbated by the criminal economic blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba. These obstacles include:
1. Lack of financing to change or improve the technology needed to produce biodegradable bags and other single-use plastic substitutes.
2. Limited infrastructure capacity for managing urban solid waste, allowing for the separation of plastic waste at source and facilitating circularity in the life cycle of these products.
Our initial experience shows that it is necessary to unite all national stakeholders, incorporating the population and the productive sector, companies that recover recyclable materials, and small and medium-sized private enterprises dedicated to the production of substitutes and the recycling of plastics.
Furthermore, the national efforts of small developing countries, such as Cuba, need to be complemented by international assistance and cooperation for capacity building, access to technologies, and new sources of finance, including private investment.
Dear participants:
We have a real opportunity to agree on a plastic pollution Treaty this week. The planet and present and future generations need it.
But an effective Treaty necessarily requires clear guarantees for all developing countries on the means of implementation necessary to fulfill the obligations of this international instrument and facilitate a just and sustainable transition.
This includes ensuring the transfer of technology and the establishment of a financial mechanism with new, sufficient, and predictable resources, specifically dedicated to supporting developing countries' actions to address plastic pollution, without discrimination or unilateral coercive measures against any nation.
To move forward in this direction, you can always count on Cuba's support.
Thank you very much.