Intergovernmental Negotiating Committees to negotiate
Plastic recycling has gained considerable importance on the international agenda in the past few years. As compared to the relatively low presence and focus on international gatherings on these issues just a few years ago, it’s fantastic to see that more than 2,000 delegates, including officials from more than 150 UN nations who attended INC-1, which took place in Punta del Este in Uruguay and lasted for an entire week.
In March 2022 in 2022, in March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly agreed to start negotiations to create an international legally binding agreement managing plastic throughout the entire value chain. The discussions will be conducted by five Intergovernmental Negotiating Committees (INCs) between 2022-2024 until a final document is made available for signing by UN members States.
Around the globe worldwide, production and consumption are currently controlled by a plethora of national, municipal, and international regulations that are usually ineffective for tackling global issues like marine plastics that know no borders and don’t acknowledge the sovereignty of a nation. Like other environmental issues like climate change, plastic pollution is also a significant issue for countries in regions of the Global South, which are already suffering the physical impact of plastics that have not been controlled adequately on the land.
The goal of these talks and the legally-binding agreement are obvious (i.e., the goal is to stop the pollution caused by plastic); however, the implications are extensive and complex. They show how plastic is now an integral component of the global consumption model and the modern world. Plastic is everywhere in everything from clothes that we put on to packaging used to ensure that imported food arrives at our tables safely and in good condition. Certain plastics can be cut down without significant changes to global supply chains or lifestyles (for examples, for example, single-use products like drinking straws), and others, such as polymers, that are now prominent in the field of textiles require significant restructuring of entire industries in the economic system.
No agreement in writing was reached in INC-1 (the initial of the five rounds of discussions). The meeting was crucial in establishing the boundaries and the critical elements of the agreement to be made in 2022 through the close of 2024. For instance, all UN Members present endorsed the development of a document covering the whole value chain of plastics, including its production, design, usage, and disposal. The funding and capacity-building process must also be included as a part of the accord, primarily to assist the global south regions during their transition.
We at Delterra are convinced that to address the world’s waste problem; we must consider the complete value chain of every waste item, not just one specific category of substances, such as plastic. We work with municipalities that are accountable for all the waste that is generated within their jurisdictions to create the system to transform and encompass behavior change to support the separation of trash as well as new collection routes and infrastructure for treatment, as well as the development of markets for recycled materials and the development of laws and alliances that ensure sustainable long-term sustainable growth. The global ambition displayed in this first gathering is positive as it emphasizes the importance of proper waste management in the world agenda.
