By Shadrack Nyakoe
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) has opened in Busan, Republic of Korea, marking a pivotal step towards finalizing an international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution, including its devastating impact on marine environments.
The session, running from November 25 to December 1, is aimed at concluding negotiations and approving the final text of the treaty.
During the opening session, the INC approved the use of the Chair’s Non-Paper 3 as the basis for focused discussions in contact groups throughout the week. The negotiations are the culmination of four previous rounds held in various locations, including Punta del Este (November 2022), Paris (June 2023), Nairobi (November 2023), and Ottawa (April 2024).
H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, expressed his hope that member states would stand united in finalizing the treaty, emphasizing the urgency of addressing plastic pollution, which is endangering future generations. “The excessive reliance on plastics has resulted in an exponential increase in waste, jeopardizing the future of our oceans and rivers,” said President Yoon in a video message.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), also stressed the importance of the moment, declaring that the treaty offers a historic opportunity to end the global plastic pollution crisis. “Not a single person wants to witness plastic in their communities or washing up on their shores. We must act now to deliver a plastic-free future,” she stated.
With over 3,800 participants from more than 170 countries, including 600 Observer organizations, INC-5 has garnered the largest turnout of any meeting in the series. Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC, called for collective global efforts to create an ambitious treaty. “We need clean air, oceans, and forests, and non-toxic plastic products,” he said.
The success of this meeting will have lasting implications, shaping future environmental policies and actions worldwide. “Once the ink is dry, we must ensure that words are followed by action,” said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC.
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