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Plastic Pollution INC-3

Last updated: 27 Nov 2023

Chemicals and Pollution | Plastics

SDG12

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3), took place from 13 to 19 November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

About the INC Process

For several years, plastic pollution has been a major issue raised at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) and other global fora.

In March 2022, Member States participating in UNEA-5 adopted resolution 5/14 – End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument, recognizing that “the high and rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution represent a serious environmental problem at a global scale, negatively impacting the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development”. This historic resolution mandates the UN Environment Programme Executive Director to convene an International Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop and adopt a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastics. This landmark decision thus launched the process towards a global plastics treaty, which should be developed by the end of 2024.

More on International Cooperation on Plastic Pollution

Outcomes of Plastics Treaty Negotiations in Nairobi

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3) concluded in Nairobi on Sunday. At INC3:

  • Delegates approved the dates and venues of INC-4 and INC-5, as 21-30 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada, and 25 November- 1 December 2024, in Busan, Republic of Korea.
  • Proposals were made or reiterated to host the Diplomatic Conference by Rwanda and Peru, Ecuador and Senegal. Ecuador has now taken the presidency of the INC process.
  • H.E. Amb. Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Kingdom, was elected as the next Chair of the INC process, while H.E. Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra of Peru and Harry Liiv of Estonia were elected vice-chairs, at the conclusion of the Session.
  • Delegates mandated the Secretariat to compile a “revised zero-draft text” by 31 December, to be the basis of talks at INC-4.
  • There was no agreement on a mandate for the intersessional work.

Livestream

Plenaries can be rewatched on UNEP Youtube Channel.

INC-3 Press Conference

Pre INC-3 Sessions

The first three meetings for the development of the international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution took place in 2022 and 2023. In May 2022, the ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) met in Dakar, Senegal. The meeting resulted in a proposed draft rules of procedure for the work of the INC. Member States then met in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 28 November to 2 December 2022 for the first meeting of the INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The second meeting of the INC took place in Paris, France from 29 May to 2 June 2023, resulting in the mandate to the Chair to prepare a zero draft of the treaty ahead of INC-3.

Plastic Pollution INC-1
Plastic Pollution INC-2

Towards INC-3

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3), took place from 13 to 19 November 2023 at the United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The session was preceded by regional consultations on 12 November 2023. Also as decided by the Committee at its second session, a preparatory one-day meeting took place on 11 November 2023, at the same venue.

→ More information on decisions and the proceedings of INC-2 are available in the official INC-2 Report (UNEP/PP/INC.2/5) 

At its second session, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee requested the Secretariat to invite written submissions on (a) Elements not discussed at INC-2, such as principles and scope of the instrument (using Template A), and (b) Any potential areas for inter-sessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3 (using  Template B).  → More information is available in the notification and submissions can be consulted on INC-3 Website.

The scenario note prepared by the Chair with the support of the secretariat was developed to assist Members in their preparations for the third session of the committee and to propose a way forward intended to maximize the limited time available for negotiations. The scenario note should be read in conjunction with the meeting documentation prepared to inform discussions throughout INC-3.

INC-3 Official Website
Scenario Note Advance (UNEP/PP/INC.3/2)

Zero Draft

As requested by INC-2 in May 2023, the Chair of the process, with the support of the secretariat, developed the zero draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, The draft is guided by the views expressed at the committee’s first and second sessions. The zero draft is available in all six UN languages: Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish.

Synthesis Report

The Synthesis report on the submissions received on elements not discussed at the second session, such as principles and scope of the instrument (UNEP/PP/INC.3/INF/1) drawing on the 61 submissions received by Members and the over 100 from observers. It reflects the inputs with regard to the scope, principles and additional considerations of the instrument following the order of the placeholders in the INC Chair Zero Draft Text (UNEP/PP/INC.3/4.3). The Synthesis report aimed to facilitate discussions of the one-day preparatory meeting of 11 November 2023, as well as discussions on these matters at the third session. This document and its contents were intended to facilitate and inform the committee’s deliberations and are in no way intended to prejudge any decision by the committee regarding the structure or content of the future instrument.

Registration and Other Relevant Information

The third session of the INC took place fully in-person. Registration for Members of the Committee closed on 6 October 2023. Information regarding travel support, transportation, accommodation, the venue, badges and more are continuously updated by the Secretariat on the information note for participants, regular consultation is advised.

INC-3 Information Note for Participants

INC-3 Provisional Agenda

As of 10 July 2023, the provisional agenda for the third session of the INC on plastic pollution contains the following items:

  1. Opening of the session.
  2. Election of officers.
  3. Organizational matters:
    (a) Adoption of the rules of procedure;
    (b) Adoption of the agenda;
    (c) Organization of work;
    (d) Dates and venues of subsequent sessions of the intergovernmental negotiating
    committee;
    (e) Provisional agenda of the fourth session.
  4. Preparation of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the
    marine environment.
  5. Other matters.
  6. Adoption of the report of the session.
  7. Closure of the session.

The Chair’s reflection note setting out the proposed approach and general expectations for the preparatory meeting as well as for the third session of the committee, prepared by the Chair of the INC, is available here.

Provisional Agenda (UNEP/PP/INC.3/1)
Follow the live daily calendar

INC-3 Side Events

With the intention of promoting continuity, 12 thematic events were organized on the sidelines of INC-3. All thematic side events took place from 13:30 – 14:45 EAT at the UNON Compound, the same premises as the INC-3, with 3 events to be held in parallel each day. They were held in English only.

INC-3 Side Events Themes and Dates
List of Co-Organizers of Side Events

Preparatory Events

Regional Consultations

In-person regional consultations took place prior to INC-3:

  • Asia Pacific Group: 2 October 2023 | Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • GRULAC: 16-17 October 2023 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Africa: 16-18 October 2023 | Kampala, Uganda
  • EEG: 27 October 2023 | Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues

Through the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues, the Geneva Environment Network and its partners support actors in the Geneva community and beyond, that are engaged in the INC process. In the upcoming months ahead INC-3, the co-conveners of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues organized events dedicated to the upcoming negotiations:

INC Secretariat Webinars

The INC Secretariat hosted a series of webinars from 22 August to 17 October 2023 to contribute to informing the discussions of the INC-3 . The webinars included initial presentations, followed by a short question-and-answer session. All the webinars were in English only without simultaneous translation. Topics have been selected to complement the webinars in the previous intersessional period and with a view to addressing areas of interest expressed by Members of the Committee.

Webinar 1: Reflections on Institutional Structures in existing MEAs, including science-policy bodies | 22 August 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session presented the governance structures of selected existing multilateral environmental agreements, including, as relevant, the operation of scientific and technical bodies, that could inform the consideration by the Committee of the institutional arrangements for the future international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. → Rewatch the session and access the presentations.

Webinar 2: First webinar for observers to share information from their written submissions | 29 August 2023 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST
This session offered observers an opportunity to present the main ideas and concepts from their written submissions to INC 3.  → Rewatch the session and access the presentations.

Webinar 3: Second webinar for observers to share information from their written submissions | 5 September 2023 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST
This session offered observers an opportunity to present the main ideas and concepts from their written submissions to INC 3.  → Rewatch the session and access the presentations.

Webinar 4: Identifying chemicals and polymers of concern  | Tuesday 12 September 2023 |  15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session presented information concerning the determination of chemicals and polymers of concern used in plastic products, including on plastic-related chemicals and polymers covered by existing conventions and national regulatory frameworks, other processes and frameworks in which chemicals or polymers of concern are being considered, and examples of relevant criteria and approaches adopted in national regulations to address chemicals and polymers of concern. →Rewatch the session 

Webinar 5: Designing and producing plastic products for circularity | 26 September 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session presented existing work and initiatives relating to the design and production of plastics and plastic products, including packaging, to support sustainable production and consumption. This included consideration of relevant existing policy frameworks, partnerships and private sector initiatives. → Rewatch the session

Webinar 6: Targets, national plans​ and national implementation | 3 October 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session provided an opportunity to consider the role played by national plans, including national action plans and national implementation plans, as well as other forms of national commitments towards the achievement of the objectives of multilateral environmental agreements and the implementation of obligations under such agreements. This session explored existing examples of such frameworks, that could inform negotiators in the development of the plastics instrument. → Rewatch the session

Webinar 7: Bridging the gap towards safe and sustainable management of plastic waste | 10 October 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session explored what environmentally sound management (ESM) of plastic waste entails, including in terms of infrastructure investment and access to technology, and opportunities to mobilize resources towards enhancing the capacity to manage waste effectively. Socio-economic and human health dimensions of sustainable waste management, including the protection of waste workers’ health were addressed.  →Rewatch the session

Webinar 8: Organization of work at INC-3 (including preparatory meeting) and presentation of the zero-draft text | 17 October 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
This session provided a presentation of the expected organization of work at INC-3, including a presentation of the zero-draft text of the instrument mandated at INC-2 to be prepared by the Chair, and other official documents prepared for the meeting.  → Rewatch the session and access presentations

International Geneva at INC-3

As a global hub for environmental governance, in particular for chemicals and waste issue, Geneva hosts many organizations whose work is highly relevant for the development of a new instrument on plastic pollution. Learn more about the organizations active in Geneva to tackle the plastic crisis through our Plastics and the Environment special section on “Addressing the Plastic Crisis from Geneva”. As we head toward INC-3, we will highlight activities, documents and resources related specifically to this meeting below.

Addressing the Plastic Crisis from Geneva

Pre-session Submissions

Highly engaged in the process, actors and stakeholders from International Geneva have provided written submissions on (a) elements not discussed at INC-2, such as principles and scope of the instrument: Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty | CIEL (Definitions compilation) | IATA | ILO | ISO | ITUC | IUCN | OHCHR | Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty | UNDRR | WBCSD | WHO ; and (b) any potential areas for inter-sessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3: Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty |  Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions| CIEL | CIEL, WCEL and IUCN |Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) | Geneva Cities Hub | ISO | IUCN |  Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty (Scientists’ Coalition) | UNITAR | WHO

Press Conference Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution | 2 September 2021
Briefing on the 1st Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (Plastic Pollution INC-1), Photos © UNEP/GEN, Marina Garlatti, 02 November 2022
Plastic is Forever Photo Exhibition - Copyright UNEP, Malou Lenoir.
Briefing on the 1st Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (Plastic Pollution INC-1), Photos © UNEP/GEN, Marina Garlatti, 02 November 2022

Additional Resources and News Ahead INC-3

 

Who To Follow on Twitter

#PlasticsTreaty #INC3