“This had 10 days in the context of geopolitical complexities, economic challenges and multilateral strains,” said Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (Dive). “However, one thing remains clear: despite these complexities, all countries clearly want to stay at the table.”
Addressing the media at the end of intergovernmental talks of the negotiation committee (INC) at the UN in the Swiss city, Ms. Andersen stressed how the Member States had expressed a clear wish to continue to engage in the process, recognizing their significant differences in plastic pollution.
“Although we have not won the text of the treaty that we hoped for UNEP, will continue to work against plastic pollution – a pollution that is in our groundwater, in our soil, in our rivers, in our oceans and yes, in our body”, “ She said.
World vision
“People demand a treaty,” continued the head of the United Nations agency, before highlighting the hard work that awaits us to maintain the momentum necessary to ink a binding international agreement.
The delegates of 183 nations attested the power of conjunction and the importance of the proposed agreement, with certain representatives of the Pacific Island – with dazzling fresh flowers in their hair – rubbing their shoulders with other participants, drained by the last negotiation session all night.
The fifth session of talks resumed-called Inc-5.2, after previous interviews in Busan, known as Inc-5.1-gathered more than 2,600 participants in the UN Palais des nations. In addition to the 1,400 delegates from countries, there were nearly 1,000 observers representing at least 400 organizations.
NGO voices heard
The session also involved the active Civil society participation – including indigenous peoples, waste pickers, artists, young people and scientists. They raised their voice through demonstrations, artistic facilities, information sessions and press events in and around the Palais des Nations.
The objective of negotiations was to agree on a text for the legally binding instrument to put an end to plastic pollution “and highlight unresolved problems requiring additional work before a diplomatic conference,” said UNP.
In addition to the meetings together in the vast assembly room of Geneva, four groups of contacts were created to tackle key problems, including plastic design, chemicals, production ceilings, finances and compliance instruments.
Despite “intensive commitment”, the members of the intergovernmental negotiation committee were unable to achieve consensus on the Proposed textsExplained the UNEP.
Call for action of the chair
“Not reaching the goal that we set can bring sadness, even frustration. However, this should not lead to discouragement. On the contrary, this should encourage us to regain our energy, to renew our commitments and to unite our aspirations, “said the president of the Inc, Luis Vayas Valdivieso.
“This has not yet occurred in Geneva, but I have no doubt that the day will come when the international community will unite its will and will join the hands to protect our environment and protect the health of our people.”
The INC process started in March 2022 when the The assembly of the United Nations environment adopted resolution 5.2 To develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
“While this session ends, we leave with an understanding of the challenges to come and a renewed commitment and shared to resolve them,” said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the INC. “Progress must now be our obligation.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
