Outline of the Third Session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, Including in the Marine Environment

(1)    In this session, 3 contact groups were established under the themes of objectives and core obligations of the instrument, means of implementation to fulfill its obligations, and other matters such as definitions and principles, based on the Zero Draft text published in September. Two co-facilitators were appointed for each group and discussions were held. The focus was set on incorporating the proposals from each country into the Zero Draft as much as possible, and as a result of the discussion, a revised version of the draft text including all the proposals was prepared, which will be the starting point and basis for textual negotiations at INC4.
 
(2)    The major points of discussion include the objective of the instrument and a time-bound target, restrictions on the production of primary plastic polymer, regulations on chemicals and polymers of concern as well as problematic and avoidable plastic products, details of national action plans, and financial support including whether or not to establish a new fund.
 
(3) Japan proposed the following and contributed to revising the Zero Draft:
(i) to include in the objective of the treaty the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040,
(ii) the need for a provision calling for each country to establish a mechanism in society to promote plastic circularity and promote efforts throughout the life cycle from production to waste management, as the overarching obligations of each country,
(iii) the need to consider the issue of the production of primary plastic according to national circumstances, only in cases where other efforts do not function sufficiently, instead of setting forth a restriction clause calling for a uniform reduction throughout the world, and calling each country to increase its efforts in reuse, recycling, and waste management to address plastic pollution,
(iv) to take into consideration the importance of science-based measures and avoid overlapping with existing legal frameworks,
(v) the need for means of implementation targeted at most effective and cost-efficient efforts and provided to the countries most in need.
 
(4)    As proposed in INC1 last year, H.E. Mr. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez of Peru stepped down from his position as the Chair of INC, and a new Chair, H.E. Mr. Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador (Vice-Chair of INC and the Bureau of Latin American and Caribbean States) was elected. In addition, the schedule and venue of the future INC sessions were confirmed as follows:
- INC4: From April 21 to April 30, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada
- INC5: From November 25 to December 1, 2024, in Busan, Republic of Korea
 
(5)    Although discussion on intersessional works up to INC4 was held during the session, large gaps remained among countries regarding the priorities and opinions, and no specific intersessional work was determined.

(6)    The delegation of Japan was headed by Mr. AKAHORI Takeshi, Assistant Minister for Global Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the session period, ONO Hiroshi, Senior Advisor to the Minister of the Environment, regularly co-hosted regional meetings as one of the two Bureaus of Asia-Pacific States, Vice-Chair of INC. Also the Japanese delegation co-hosted one of the twelve official side events held during the period under Theme 2, "Oceans and the Marine Environment," and introduced relevant policies and actions in Japan (international harmonization on ocean surface microplastic monitoring method and the development of a database, promotion of municipalities actions, collection of marine debris through collaboration with fishery business operators, support for research and development of alternative materials, etc.).

〇 Bureau of Asia-Pacific States (Vice-Chair of INC)
Ten Vice Chairs in total are elected from the following regions: Asia-Pacific States, African States, Latin American and Caribbean States, Eastern European States, Western European and Other States and Small-Island Developing States, and serve roles including the operation of the Committee together with the Chair.

〇 Outline of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, Including in the Marine Environment (INC)
In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a resolution entitled “End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument” was adopted, and the establishment of INC was decided.
 The INC consisting of five sessions from November 2022 to the end of 2024, aims to develop an international instrument. Following the first session that took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay in November 2022, and the second session in Paris, France in May 2023, the third session was held in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023. The fourth session and fifth session are scheduled to be held in April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada, and in November 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea, respectively.

○ Statement of Japan at the opening session of INC 3
https://resolutions.unep.org/resolutions/uploads/japan_4.pdf