Why in the News?

The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on plastic pollution has opened in Geneva, Switzerland.

About Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC):

• Formation: Created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in March 2022 to develop a global treaty on plastic pollution.
• Nature: UN-mandated body with equal participation of all member states.
• Output: Produces consensus-based treaties, sometimes including voluntary provisions.
• Precedents: Similar to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992).
• Mandate: By 2024, draft a legally binding treaty covering plastic’s full life cycle—production, design, use, and disposal.

Negotiation Process & Timeline:

• Method: Plenary sessions, technical groups, and stakeholder consultations.
• Sessions:

1. 1. Uruguay (Nov–Dec 2022)
   2. France (May–June 2023)
   3. Kenya (Nov 2023)
   4. Canada (Apr–May 2024)
   5. South Korea (Nov–Dec 2024, final session)

• Key Debates: Scope, binding vs. voluntary rules, financing, compliance, and differentiated responsibilities.
• Outcome: Treaty text refined until consensus or majority approval.

Goals on Plastic Pollution:

• Standards: Global production and waste management norms.
• Targets: Combination of binding goals and voluntary approaches.
• Financing: Creation of funding mechanisms for treaty implementation.
• Sustainability: Promotion of circular economy and efficient resource use.
• Participation: Inclusion of governments, industry, civil society, Indigenous groups, and waste pickers.

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