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Towards Plastics Pollution INC-4

Last updated: 28 Apr 2024

Chemicals and Pollution | Plastics

SDG12

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), is scheduled to take place from 23 to 29 April 2024 at the Shaw Center in Ottawa, Canada. The session were preceded by regional consultations on 21 April 2024.

About the International Negotiating Committee to Develop a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution 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, a historical resolution was adopted at the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly – End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument (UNEA 5/14), 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”. It mandated 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

Pre INC-4 Sessions

The first four 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.
  • The third session of the INC was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 13 to 19 November and saw  H.E. Amb. Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Kingdom elected as the next Chair of the INC process and delegates mandating the Secretariat to compile a “revised zero-draft text” (UNEP/PP/INC.4/3) as the basis of talks at INC-4.

Plastic Pollution INC-3

Learn more about preparations, and outcomes and find resources on the role of Geneva.

Plastic Pollution INC-2

Learn more about preparations, and outcomes and find resources on the role of Geneva.

Plastic Pollution INC-1

Learn more about preparations, and outcomes and find resources on the role of Geneva.

Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, will take place from 23 to 29 April 2024 at the Shaw Center in Ottawa, Canada. The session was preceded by regional consultations on 21 April 2024.

At the 3rd session (INC-3), delegates mandated the Secretariat to compile a “revised zero-draft text”. On 28 December 2023, the INC Secretariat released the advance copy of the Revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (UNEP/PP/INC.4/3). The final document is available in all six UN languages on the INC-4 website.

INC-4 Official Documents

INC-4 Official Website
Participants Note

Watch Live

Live Schedule

Opening Press Conference

Press Releases, Analyses and News during INC-4

INC-4 Preparatory Events

While no intersessional work has been agreed upon at the last Plastic Pollution INC Session in November 2023, efforts to advance the work towards a Plastic Pollution Treaty continue informally.

Regional Consultations

In-person consultations took place prior INC-4 to support regions in their preparation by giving Member States the possibility to consult each other ahead INC-4.

  • Asia Pacific Group: 5-6 March 2024, Bangkok, Thailand.
  • GRULAC: 20 -22 March 2024, Panama.
  • EEG: 25 March 2024, Vienna, Austria.
  • Africa: 25-27 March 2024

A full day of regional consultations took place on 21 April 2024, prior to the opening of the session on 23 April 2024, at the same venue. The secretariat will reserve rooms for the meetings of the five regional groups of United Nations and the SIDS. In addition, there will be an opportunity for regional meetings to be held every morning throughout the week.

Secretariat Webinars

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 and other processes tackling plastic pollution. Ahead INC-4, the co-conveners of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues organized events relevant to the upcoming negotiations.

Plastic Chemical Threats to Children’s Health & Development: Opportunities to Protect Children’s Health and their Future in the Plastics Treaty

IPEN and Geneva Environment Network | 16 April 2024 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST

Plastic Production: Latest Views from Scientists and the Public

Greenpeace and Geneva Environment Network | 16 April 2024 | 13:00 – 14:30 CEST

Launch and Panel Discussion | Plastic Waste Trade: A New Colonialist Means of Pollution Transfer

Basel Action Network and Geneva Environment Network | 15 April 2024 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST

Launch and Panel Discussion | Plastics Treaty: Aligning States Duties and Business Responsibilities with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

OHCHR and Geneva Environment Network | 12 April 2024 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST

Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade: Call for Action

World Trade Organization and Geneva Environment Network | 9 April 2024 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST

Chemicals in the Plastics Treaty: Perspectives on Protecting Human Health

IPEN and Geneva Environment Network | 28 March 2024

Biodiversity and the Global Plastics Treaty: IUCN’s Proposal for a Specific Article on “Biodiversity Aspects” in the Future Treaty

IUCN and Geneva Environment Network | 26 March 2024

Launch and Panel Discussion | Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

GRID-Arendal and Geneva Environment Network | 20 March 2024

Launch and Panel Discussion | State of the Science on Plastic Chemicals: Identifying and Addressing Chemicals and Polymers of Concern

PlastChem and Geneva Environment Network | 14 March 2024

Implementing a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution: A Holistic Approach to Resource Mobilization & Financing for Systems Change & Just Transitions

TESS and Geneva Environment Network | 7 February 2024

Launch and Panel Discussion | Global Criteria to Address Problematic, Unnecessary and Avoidable Plastic Products

Nordic Council of Ministers, Geneva Environment Network | 1 February 2024

Other Sessions Ahead of INC-4

Additional Resources & News Ahead of INC-4

INC-4 Provisional Agenda

According to the Draft decision on the draft provisional agenda of the fourth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (UNEP/PP/INC.3/L.2) adopted during the third session of the plastic pollution INC, the provisional agenda for the fourth 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;
    (e) Provisional agenda of the fifth 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
Provisional Schedule 26 April 2024
Annotated provisional agenda

INC-4 Side Events

Thematic side events to INC-4 will be held on  24 April and 25 April 2024 from 13:30 to 14:45 EAT, in-person only.

INC-4 Parallel Events in Ottawa

Virtual

International Geneva at INC-4

As a global hub for environmental governance, in particular for chemicals, waste and pollution issues, 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”.

Addressing the Plastic Crisis from Geneva

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Center for International Environmental Law | CIEL

Convention on Wetlands

Forum on Trade, Environment & SDGs (TESS)

Global Cities Hub

International Labour Organization | ILO

International Union for Conservation of Nature | IUCN

International Trade Union Confederation | ITUC

International Organization for Standardization | ISO

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights | OHCHR

Special Procedures on Human Rights

UNCTAD

UNDRR

UNECE

UNEP Finance Initiative

World Business Council for Sustainable Development | WBCSD

World Economic Forum

World Health Organization | WHO

World Trade Organization | WTO

World Wide Fund for Nature | WWF

Press Conference Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution | 2 September 2021
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

Who To Follow on X (Twitter)

#PlasticsTreaty #INC4

Photo Credit © Asid Ali/Unsplash