At the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022, 175 governments agreed on a landmark resolution to launch negotiations on a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution to be concluded by the end of 2024. As governments and stakeholders embark on this task, this is a timely moment to refresh a focus on the overarching vision and specific goals the treaty should aim to achieve, along with the key features the treaty will need to translate the resolution’s ambition into concrete commitments and meaningful action to end plastic pollution.

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The first session of this event will draw together key actors to provide an update on next steps on the plastic pollution treaty and in related international fora that can complement and support the treaty process. Speakers in the second session will review a sample of voluntary initiatives, standards and regulatory measures, highlighting the specific challenges, opportunities and priorities that could be concretely addressed in the  treaty. Finally, speakers will share views on the vision and goals that should drive the treaty talks, focusing on the outcomes and system change needed and how the treaty should be structured to achieve them.

This event is co-hosted by TESS, the Global Governance Centre at the Graduate Institute, and the Geneva Environment Network, in cooperation with the governments of Barbados, Ecuador, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

agenda

15:00 – 15:40 CEST

Welcome

• Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Director, Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS)

Theme 1: State of play in key international processes, next steps, and opportunities to galvanise cooperation

Speakers will offer concise updates on the state of play on the treaty and next steps, as well as on work in other international fora that can complement and support the treaty.

Keynote remarks

• Mr. Luis Vayas, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador

Speakers :

• Leticia Carvalho, Head, Marine and Freshwater Branch, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
• Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General, WTO
• Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General, UNCTAD

Moderator: H.E. Mr. José Valencia, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the WTO

15:50-16:50 CEST

Theme 2: Voluntary initiatives, standards and regulatory measures: Challenges, opportunities & priorities

The UNEA resolution calls for the launch of negotiations for a treaty that will include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic. Among the objectives noted in the resolution are to “promote sustainable production and consumption” including through attention to product design, environmentally sound waste management, resource efficiency and circular economy approaches. In addition to work on national action plans, the resolution calls on governments to find ways to “promote national and international cooperative measures to reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment, including existing plastic pollution.”

In light of this mandate, speakers in this session will:

• take stock of the landscape of industry-led supply chain efforts and partnerships, voluntary standards and labels, and domestic regulations and requirements to reduce plastic pollution.
• highlight gaps, opportunities, and challenges, including for firms operating in and trading across many countries, for consumers and for governments.
• offer concrete suggestions on how to strengthen cooperation on standards and measures through the international treaty as well as the role of the Basel Convention and complementary processes such as the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade at the WTO, which aim to harness trade policies to support efforts to tackle the plastics crisis.

Each speaker will make a concise five-minute intervention to share their key messages and suggestions.

Speakers:

• John Duncan, Global Initiative Lead, No Plastics in Nature, WWF
• Feng Wang, Coordinator, Circularity and Waste, Consumption and Production Unit, UNEP
• Kitty Parker Brooks, Associate, The Consumer Goods Forum Plastic Waste Coalition of Action
• Jean-Marc Klopfenstein, Global Master Data Lead, Nestlé SA
• Robert Beidman, Chief Product Officer, GS1
• Tiza Mafira, PR3 Indonesia
• Kristin Hughes, Managing Director, Global Plastic Action Partnership, World Economic Forum
• Justin Wilkes, Executive Director, ECOS
• Daniel Ramos, Legal Officer, WTO

Moderator: Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Director, TESS

17:00-18:00 CET

Theme 3:  Ending plastic pollution: Visions & goals for a treaty that drives a systemic response 

In this panel, leading stakeholders will highlight cutting-edge trends and share their views on the vision and specific goals needed for a treaty that can drive a systemic response to pollution across the full life cycle of plastic. The discussion will cover topics ranging from   sustainable production and consumption to ensuring safe circularity, reducing virgin plastic production, and addressing legacy plastic pollution.

Speakers will share views on:

• What is your vision on an ideal system that would end plastic pollution?
• What are the key goals, targets and outcomes that should focus and galvanise action?
• What key approaches and features will the new international treaty on plastic pollution need in order to achieve these visions and goals?

Each speaker will make a concise five-minute intervention to share their key messages and recommendations.

Speakers: 

• Amb. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru
• David Azoulay, Managing Attorney, Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
• Winnie Lau, Senior Manager, Preventing Ocean Plastics, The Pew Charitable Trusts (TBC)
• Erica Nunez, Program Officer, The Ocean Foundation
• Ben Dixon, Partner, SYSTEMIQ
• Soledad Mella, representative of the Global Alliance of Waste pickers and president of the Asociación Movimiento Nacional de Recicladores de Chile (ANARCH) 
• Joao Sousa, Senior Programme Officer of Marine Plastics, Global Marine and Polar Programme, IUCN – The World Conservation Union
• Carsten Wachholz, Senior Policy Manager, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Paolo Glerean, Chair, Recyclass

Moderator: Mr. Felix Wertli, Head of Global Affairs Section, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)

18:00-19:30 CET

Reception – The Geneva Graduate Institute Cafeteria

Welcome remarks:

• Mr. Felix Wertli, Head of Global Affairs Section, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
• H.E. Mr. Chad Blackman, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Barbados to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Simon Manley, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the UK to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva 
• H.E. Mr. José Valencia, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the WTO

Welcome remarks will focus on the importance of cooperation across the international system on plastic pollution and the value of  ‘whole of government’ approaches.

In this spirit, the reception will gather delegations, officials stakeholders working on plastic pollution through a range of  international organisations and processes, focused on issues ranging from environment and chemicals to health and trade  that are relevant to plastic pollution, as well as students and researchers from the Geneva Graduate Institute.