“This has been a hard-fought 10 days against the background of geopolitical complexities, economic challenges and multilateral tribes,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN environmental program (UNEP). “However, one thing remains clear: despite these complexities, all countries want to stay clearly at the table.”
Speaking with the media at the end of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (Inc) discussions at the UN in the Swiss city, Mrs. Andersen emphasized how Member States had expressed a clear desire to continue to enter into the process and to recognize their important differences with regard to plastic pollution.
“Although we did not land the treaty text we had hoped for, we will continue working at UNEP against plastic pollution – pollution in our groundwater, in our soil, in our rivers, in our oceans and yes, in our body,” “ she said.
World view
“People demand a treaty,” the head of the UN agency continued, before the hard work that occurs underlines to maintain the momentum needed to ink a binding international agreement.
Delegates from 183 countries confirmed to the convenient power and the importance of the proposed agreement, with some representatives of the Pacific Island – complete with beautiful fresh flowers in their hair – rubbing shoulders with other participants, emptied by the last negotiation session for the entire night.
The resumed fifth session of conversation declaration as Inc-5.2, after previous conversations in Busan known as Inc-5.1 collected more than 2,600 participants in the UN Palais des Nations. In addition to the approximately 1,400 national representatives, there were nearly 1,000 observers who represent at least 400 organizations.
NGO voices heard
The session also included the active Participation of civil society – Including indigenous peoples, waste pickers, artists, young people and scientists. They increased their voices through protests, art installations, press briefings and events in and around the palace of the nations.
The aim of the negotiations was to agree on a text for the legally binding instrument to terminate plastic pollution and to emphasize that unsolved issues that require further preparatory work for a diplomatic conference, “Unep said.
In addition to meetings together in the vast assemblage hall of Uneva, four contact groups were made to tackle important problems, including plastic design, care schemicals, production caps, finance and compliance instruments.
Despite “intensive involvement”, members of the intergovernmental negotiating committee were unable to reach consensus on the Proposed textsUNEP explained.
Action -Call of the Chairman
“Not achieving the goal that we set for ourselves can bring sadness, even frustration. Yet it should not lead to discouragement. On the contrary, it should encourage us to regain our energy, to renew our obligations and unite our ambitions,” said Inc chairman, Luis Vayas Valdivieso.
“It has not yet happened in Geneva, but I do not doubt that the day will come that the international community will unite its will and go into hands to protect our environment and to protect the health of our people.”
The Inc process started in March 2022 when the UN -Environment Assembly Acquired Resolution 5.2 To develop an internationally legally binding instrument about plastic pollution, also in the marine environment.
“As this session concludes, we are leaving with an understanding of the challenges that lie in front of us and a renewed and shared dedication to tackle them,” said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the Inc Secretariat. “Progress must now be our obligation.”
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