INC to prepare global agreement draft, Paris talks conclude

The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to establish an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments, concluded in Paris on Saturday.

The committee has assigned the INC Chair, with the support of the Secretariat, to draft an initial version of the agreement ahead of the next session in Nairobi, scheduled for November this year.

Over 1,700 participants, including delegates from 169 member states and observers from NGOs, attended the session hosted by France at the headquarters of UNESCO.

INC-2 follows the first session, INC-1, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in November 2022.

Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), expressed encouragement over the progress made at INC-2 and the mandate to draft a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

She urged member states to maintain the momentum and emphasised the need for an agreement that is broad, inclusive, transparent, and built upon scientific knowledge and stakeholder input.

Andersen further highlighted the importance of redesigning products and packaging to reduce plastic usage, promoting reuse and recyclability, and establishing a system for justice. She emphasised the transformative potential of the INC to bring about these changes and create opportunities for all.

During the session’s first day, Georgia, Estonia, Sweden, and the US were elected to the bureau, and discussions on voting rights led to the agreement on interpretive paragraphs for the Draft Rules of Procedure, which apply provisionally to the work of the INC.

In his closing remarks, INC Chair Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez expressed gratitude to the government of France, UNESCO, member states, observers, co-facilitators, and support staff for their contributions. He acknowledged the responsibility to develop the zero draft in a manner that accurately reflects discussions and the views of member states, quoting Victor Hugo to emphasise the importance of listening to nature and taking action.

The INC decision instructed the Secretariat to seek submissions from observers by August 15 and from member states by September 15 on issues not covered in INC-2, such as the principles, scope, and potential areas for intersessional work.

Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the INC Secretariat, commended the participants for making the Paris session impactful. She highlighted the momentum built during the discussions, which will guide their work during the intersessional period and at future sessions. Mathur-Filipp expressed anticipation for INC-3 in Nairobi in November.