INC on plastic pollution

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Context:

• The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), opened in Canada’s capital, Ottawa.

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee-4

• The session aims to advance negotiations to finalize the text of the instrument at the fifth session (INC-5) in November.
• Key issues include phasing out single-use plastics, reducing production, and including binding targets. The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in 2015, set the stage for this treaty.
• Members will decide on intersessional work needed between INC-4 and INC-5 to further develop the text.
• INC-4 is the final stage of negotiations before the negotiations end in INC-5 following earlier rounds:
  • INC-1 (Punta del Este, November 2022),
  • INC-2 (Paris, June 2023), and
  • INC-3 (Nairobi, November 2023).
• It calls for negotiation grounded in scientific evidence, accountability, integrity, and optimism for achieving the treaty.
• INC-4 was preceded by regional consultations, and conversations with Observers, with Canada hosting Partnerships Day and Ministerial Day on the sidelines.

Key Issues and Diverging Views

• Elimination of problematic and avoidable plastic uses, especially single-use plastics
• Reducing plastic production vs. focusing only on waste management
• Disclosure of plastic production volumes and chemicals used by companies
• Inclusion of binding targets and banning of certain chemicals in the treaty
• Opposition from the petrochemical industry and some oil/gas producing countries to limits on production 

About INC-5

• It will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 25 November to 2 December 2024.
• This marks the end of the INC process, followed by a Diplomatic Conference for Heads of State to sign the agreement.

About the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

• United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 requested the Executive Director of UNEP to convene an intergovernmental negotiating committee, to begin its work during the second half of 2022, with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024.
• The INC is tasked with developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, which could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic.
• Conclusion:
• The INC-4 meeting marks a critical step in the development of a landmark global treaty to tackle the growing crisis of plastic pollution. While there is emerging consensus on certain elements like reducing single-use plastics. The negotiations in Ottawa will shape the contours of the final agreement that has the potential to be a watershed moment for sustainability and environmental action.

Source:

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/pivotal-fourth-session-negotiations-global-plastics-treaty-opens

PRACTICE QUESTION Q)  Evaluate the significance of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee-4 (INC-4) in shaping global efforts to combat plastic pollution, focusing on key issues such as single-use plastics, production reduction, and the role of scientific evidence in negotiation processes.(250 Words)