HELCOM notes with concern the high and rapidly increasing levels of marine plastic litter and microplastics as a global environmental problem and a serious threat to the marine environment. HELCOM commits itself to the prevention and significant reduction of marine plastic litter and microplastics from both land- and sea-based sources, which constitutes a contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals. In particular, HELCOM finds that strengthened global action is needed to prevent further discharge and reduce levels of marine plastic litter and microplastic in the marine environment stemming from current global and market-driven consumption of plastic products. The matter of marine litter, including plastic, cannot be solved by any one country alone and effective, dedicated global governance is needed to address existing gaps and promote coherence, coordination and effective prioritization of our efforts. Therefore, HELCOM commits itself to support the development of a global instrument to more effectively and comprehensively deal with the issue of marine plastic litter and microplastics on a global level in an integrated manner.