The role of soft law in guiding the development of a Global Treaty on plastic pollution

Abstract

Soft law is not a formally recognized source of international law, yet it represents an emerging and increasingly influential trend in the development of international law, particularly in urgent areas such as environmental pollution in general and plastic pollution in particular. Through international declarations, recommendations and guidelines, soft law norms contribute to fostering preliminary consensus among States and shaping standards of conduct. The authors argue that soft law plays a directional and transitional role, bridging political commitments and binding legal obligations, thereby supporting negotiations and the eventual formation of enforceable legal duties. This article examines the normative role of soft law in the development of a global treaty on plastic pollution.