Global Efforts to Combat Plastic Pollution Take a Step Forward
Oru Leonard
In a significant development, countries negotiating an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have made progress towards a global treaty. The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) concluded in Busan, Republic of Korea, with the agreement on a ‘Chair’s Text’ that will serve as the starting point for negotiations in 2025.
The INC-5 meeting brought together over 3,300 delegates from more than 170 nations and 440 organizations. The delegates negotiated two documents before agreeing on the Chair’s Text, which will be used as a basis for further negotiations.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), praised the progress made, stating that the world’s commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable. She emphasized that the talks have moved closer to agreeing on a global legally binding treaty that will protect human health, the environment, and the future from plastic pollution.
The next round of talks is expected to take place in 2025, with the Committee requesting the Executive Director of UNEP to inform delegations of the venue. The INC-5 meeting follows four earlier rounds of negotiations, with the ultimate goal of developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
The progress made at INC-5 is a significant step towards addressing the global issue of plastic pollution. As Ambassador Vayas emphasized, “Our mandate has always been ambitious. But ambition takes time to land. We have many of the elements that we need, and Busan has put us firmly on a pathway to success”.
