INC-4 must take a huge stride towards delivering. By narrowing the options of the draft text. By taking tough decisions. By finding compromise. By agreeing on a mandate for intercessional work, so that, at INC-5 in Busan this November, we can and will finalise an instrument that sets the stage to end plastic pollution.
Inger Andersen UNEP
World governments are edging close to forging a treaty to control plastics. The intergovernmental negotiators in their 4th session in Ottawa, Canada are reaching consensus on some key areas.
These include elimination of single use plastic, redesigning and packaging, just transition that includes waste pickers, a reporting framework among other key areas.
United Nations Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen acknowledged their effort but pleaded with the negotiators to embrace compromise in sticking areas.
Multiple polls have shown that the public is heartsick of plastic pollution. Civil society -including indigenous peoples, scientists, waste pickers, women’s groups and local communities-have spoken loud and clear against plastic pollution. Businesses are innovating with new products and asking for clear long term global rules. The finance sector wants to get behind this opportunity.
Inger Andersen-UNEP
The global agreement expected to be ready by end of this year , will include measures along the entire life cycle of plastics, from product design to production and waste management.
This landmark treaty promises to revolutionise the way we produce, consume and dispose of plastics. From single use plastics to microplastics, the stakes are high and the clock is ticking.
Inger called on the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee INC-4, to explore the different proposals submitted on the sticking issues such as that on chemicals and products. The three previous rounds of talks by the negotiators saw divisions emerge over a number of issues.
The chair of the negotiations Andres Gomez Carrion is quoted by Reuters acknowledging the challenges the task presents. “
One of the biggest challenges is to define what sustainable production and consumption is.”
Inger Andersen while addressing the opening session asked the committee to come up with an instrument that ensures the use of fewer virgin materials and less problematic plastic.
The legally binding instrument seeks to protect human and ecosystem health, while ensuring a just transition and space for private sector to thrive in a sustainable economy.
160 financial institutions representing US$ 15.5 trillion in assets have endorsed support for plastic control, signing the Finance statement on plastic pollution, supported by the UNEP Finance initiative.
A report published by the UNDP last November shows that most of the plastics used around the world end up in landfills. The report states that the recycling rate of plastics is quite low.
Scientists estimate that only 9percent of all plastic generated is recycled. 79 per cent ends up in in landfills or in nature. Some 12 percent is incinerated. Much of today’s recycling is merely postponing final disposal, not preventing waste
UNDP REPORT- NOV 2023
Inc- 5 will be the final meeting that is expected to produce the legally binding instrument of plastic pollution and hand it over for adoption. A diplomatic conference will be convened to receive the instrument for adoption and to allow parties to sign it.
Time is against us-both in terms of finalising the instrument and how much more the planet can take. As we deliberate, plastic pollution continues to gush into ecosystems. I ask for INC-4 to show energy, commitment, collaboration
Inger Andersen-UNEP Executive Director
INC-4 is deliberating on a revised zero draft of the future instrument, that had been compiled by the secretariat. The revised zero draft is a culmination of the three contact groups set up during INC-3 to deliberate the original zero draft and a synthesis report on previously undiscussed elements.
A lobby group, ‘Break free from plastics’ movement, held processions at the start of negotiations calling on negotiators to uphold issues of human rights, health ,environment and the climate in their deliberations.
Delegates must act like our lives depend on it – because they do, “
Daniela Duran Gonzales- Senior Legal Campaigner (Centre for International Environmental Law)
INC began its work in the second half of 2022 undertaking to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. INC is a product of a historic resolution of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in March 2022 to control plastic pollution including the marine environment through a global law.
INC will hold its 5th and final session on the 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The UN Environment is running a media campaign under the slogan “Plastic is fantastic” is a fairy tale gone wrong!
UNEPs campaign seeks to eliminate unnecessary plastics, redesign products so that they can be reused, repurposed, repaired and recycled, switch to non plastic substitutes and strengthen systems for sound waste management.
The production of plastic is energy intensive and in 2019 plastic generated 1.8 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions,3.4 percent of global total
FACT SHEET– SINCE THE 1950s
9.2billion tonnes of plastics produced, 7 billion are waste, fill landfills, pollute lakes,rivers,the soil and the ocean. Plastic have up to even tens of thousands of years to degrade.
We produce and consume 430 million tonnes of plastic each year,
The figure will rise to 1290 million tonnes by 2060 if no intervention with devastating impact for ecosystems and human health.
RECYCLING: BARRIERS
Contamination: Labels, food remains may damage recycling equipment, sorting is tedious, and quality of recycled product compromised
Harmful Chemicals : Plastics have a blend of chemical additives harmful to human health, exposure has devastating health effects.
Profitability:Collection, sorting, treatment are complicated and expensive. (Nature of plastics diverse in terms of its properties structure, colour and melting point)
Quality: Each time plastic is recycled, the quality of the material degrades.
