What's At Stake At INC-4?

Back in March 2022, a significant resolution was passed at the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, titled "End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument." This resolution acknowledged the severe global issue of plastic pollution, recognising its detrimental effects on the environment, society, and sustainable development. It mandated the UN Environment Programme Executive Director to establish an International Negotiating Committee (INC) to create a legally binding treaty addressing plastic pollution across its entire life cycle. This landmark decision marked the beginning of the process toward a global agreement on plastic pollution, with the aim of finalising the treaty by the end of 2024. The fourth session of the INC to develop this international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, is set to take place from the 23rd to the 29th of April 2024 in Canada. Many battles are set to be fought at these negotiations, to effectively respond to the global plastics pollution crisis. What are they? We speak to Arpita Bhagat, the Plastic Policy Officer at GAIA Asia Pacific, and Dharmesh Shah, a Consulting Senior Campaigner (Plastics Treaty), at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), to find out more about what civil society organisation will be pushing for, at INC-4.

Image Credit: GAIA