External event 13 Nov, 2023

Third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution (INC-3)

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3), is scheduled to take place from 13 to 19 November 2023 at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Photo: karuvadgraphy

The third session will be preceded by regional consultations on 12 November and a preparatory one-day meeting on 11 November 2023. 

Mandated by Resolutions 7.019 - Stopping the global plastic pollution crisis in marine environments by 2030 and  7.069 - Eliminate plastic pollution in protected areas, with priority action on single-use plastic products and based on its extensive work on plastics, the IUCN Delegation will focus its inputs on nature conservation and the interlinkages between the chemicals and waste agenda and outcomes (e.g. ICCM5), the Zero Draft of the Plastics Treaty to be considered at INC-3, and the Global Biodiversity Goals and Targets. It will provide legal expertise and scientific inputs and make the connection with ongoing policy processes on these areas, emphasizing the need for treaty convergence, coherence and complementarity between the future Plastics Treaty, the implementation of the GBF (especially Target 7), the High Seas Treaty, as well as related IUCN Resolutions.

IUCN calls on Parties to:

  • Ensure uniformity between commitments made by States at various international and regional treaties, emphasising the need for coherence and treaty convergence in terms to ensure that these commitments are mutually supportive rather than mutually exclusive.
  • Agree to measurable, ecologically sustainable objectives, targets and actions to stop all plastic pollution by 2030 and end pollution from single-use plastics by 2025, addressing the circularity of production and consumption patterns (SDG 12) in line with biodiversity targets, and considering States’ national circumstances and capabilities, as well as obligations under other relevant MEAs.
  • Ensure an inclusive, just and gender responsive process and an effective and nature positive Treaty as an outcome. The Plastics Treaty must be designed and implemented so as to ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities. Likewise, women and girls, whose equality is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development, must be empowered and included to achieve our environmental, social, and economic goals of a just transition and a circular economy.

Further details of IUCN's views can be found on the section below as well as resources and tools for negotiators and participants. 

In addition, on November 15, from 13:30-14:45 EAT IUCN is co-hosting an official side event "Monitoring the situation and monitoring progress of the future instrument: objectives/targets and their associated baselines, indicators and timelines."

Our partners GRID-Arendal, with University of Portsmouth, are hosting an event Friday 10 November at the Signature Auditorium in Nairobi for the public, "‘Who Knows It Feels It: A Waste Picker's Perspective for a Just Transition". Waste pickers from Kenya will deliver an important message to policy makers at the negotiations. To attend this public performance on 10 November, or if you are an INC-3 delegate who wishes to attend one of the 12 November performances, please register here

Resources for INC-3 negotiators and participants