Negotiators from 176 nations are gathering in Ottawa, Canada, this week for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Their mission is to craft a groundbreaking international treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking on Earth Day, emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “Plastics know no border... To beat plastic pollution, we need a strong plastics treaty that upholds human rights and addresses the full life cycle of plastics.”
Hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the talks, scheduled from April 23 to 29, will see delegates from 174 countries converging in the Canadian capital. The goal of this session, known as INC-4, is to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive agreement slated to be finalized later in 2024.
Plastic pollution is a global crisis with far-reaching consequences. Greenpeace Canada warns that without robust measures, plastic production and waste could triple by 2060, with up to 37 million metric tons entering oceans annually by 2040. The economic toll is staggering, costing over $2 trillion annually, predominantly affecting local communities.
Canada, taking a leading role in addressing this challenge, has launched initiatives such as the Ocean Plastics Charter and domestic bans on harmful single-use plastics. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault will spearhead Canada’s efforts to rally international cooperation during the negotiations.
INC-4, the penultimate session in a series of five, aims to build consensus on key issues like scope, wording, and financial mechanisms for the treaty. While no final agreement is expected, it sets the stage for INC-5 in Korea later this year.
Ahead of the negotiations, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen underscored the crucial role of the finance sector in tackling plastic pollution.
Notably, 160 financial institutions representing $15.5 trillion in combined assets have called for an ambitious treaty. Their voices, alongside those of environmental advocates and government officials, underscore the global momentum for action on this pressing issue.
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