INC-4 PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), convened under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Ottawa, Canada, aimed to advance discussions on a crucial treaty addressing plastic pollution.

EXPLANATION:

• However, despite initial optimism, the progress made during INC-4 was marred by significant challenges and shortcomings.
• The zero draft, expanded during the third meeting (INC-3) to incorporate diverse Member State perspectives, served as the basis for negotiations at INC-4.
• The meeting commenced with subgroups focusing on textual revisions, though substantive discussions only gained momentum in the final days.

Issues in Textual Negotiations

• Textual negotiations entail refining the wording of MEAs through collaborative dialogue among participating parties.
• Amendments, additions, or deletions are proposed based on countries’ concerns, interests, or objectives.
• The process aims to reconcile differing viewpoints to achieve a coherent and effective agreement.
• Textual negotiations, pivotal in shaping multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), encountered hurdles during INC-4.
• Some Member States adopted a non-collaborative stance, advocating for the omission of specific text while simultaneously proposing amendments aimed at diluting provisions.
• This obstructionism extended to both upstream measures, such as primary plastic polymers and chemicals of concern, and downstream measures like extended producer responsibility (EPR).
• Contact Group 1, tasked with deliberating on substantive provisions, faced challenges in advancing textual negotiations for critical elements like definitions, exemptions, and plastic waste management.
• Similarly, Contact Group 2 encountered obstacles, impeding progress on several provisions.

Textual negotiations could not be started for all of the following provisions:

Closing Plenary Disappointment

• The Closing Plenary highlighted disappointment and domination by like-minded groups.
• The Chair’s proposal for intersessional work, initially weak, was further diluted, resulting in an agreement lacking a clear objective.
• The final proposal, endorsed by all Member States, involved the formation of a special expert group to analyze criteria for plastic products, chemicals of concern, and recyclability.
• Brazil also proposed a similar expert group focusing on financing mechanisms.

Concerns and Reluctance

• INC-4’s failure to address pressing issues such as plastic reduction targets and procedural challenges raises concerns about the Chair’s leadership and the committee’s commitment to meeting the 2024 deadline.
• The reluctance to engage in substantive discussions and the exclusion of textual negotiations during intersessional work indicate a potential delay in finalizing the treaty text.

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution:

• In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
• The resolution (5/14) requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop “the instrument,”.
• It is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.
• The INC began its work during the second half of 2022, with the ambition to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024.
• The first session of the INC (INC-1) took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay from 28 November to 2 December 2022, followed by a second session (INC-2) from 29 May to 2 June 2023 in Paris, France, and a third session (INC-3) from 13 to 19 November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The fourth session (INC-4) is scheduled for 23 to 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada, and the fifth session (INC-5) on 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It was established after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972.
• Its headquarters is in Nairobi, Kenya.
• It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for global environment protection.

United Nations Environment Assembly:

• The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the governing body of the UN Environment Programme.
• It is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
• It meets biennially to set priorities for global environmental policies and develop international environmental law.
• It was created in June 2012, during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also referred to as RIO+20.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/waste/cse-dte-at-ottawa-poor-progress-at-inc-4-as-it-fails-to-address-the-elephant-in-the-room-95891