Global plastic treaty meet ends with proposal for zero draft

The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2), concluded on 2 June in the French capital with a mandate for the INC Chair, with the support of the Secretariat, to prepare a zero draft of the agreement ahead of the next session, due to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in November.

“I am encouraged by progress at INC-2 and the mandate to prepare a zero draft of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“I look forward to INC-3 in Nairobi, and urge Member States to maintain this momentum. The world is calling for an agreement that is broad, innovative, inclusive and transparent, one that leans on science and learns from stakeholders, and one that ensures support for developing nations," she added.

The start of the one-week negotiations was a rough one as more than two days were focused on the rules of procedure. Later on, negotiators were able to move ahead on the substance of the talks, such as whether plastic production should be capped, whether the treaty should set global targets or allow countries to have their own plans, etc.

EU countries as well as Japan, Chile and island nations, wants global targets to reduce plastic production and pollution, while countries like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have favored national plans to tackle the problem, says a report by Reuters.  

INC Chair will prepare zero draft of international agreement on plastic pollution as Paris negotiations end.

In its decision, the INC requested the Secretariat to invite submissions from observers by 15 August and Members by 15 September on elements not discussed at INC-2, such as the principles and scope of the instrument, and any potential areas for intersessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3.

“Moving forward, I would like to thank you for your trust for the development of the zero draft, with the support of the Secretariat,” Chair of the INC, H.E. Mr. Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez, said when officially closing the session. 

“I will do the utmost to ensure that this document reflects faithfully our discussions, as well as the contributions and views of Member States. I take this crucial step to meet our tight deadline with great responsibility,” he remarked.