April 23 — During the plenary session held on April 23, delegations reaffirmed their strong commitment to advancing negotiations toward a global agreement to end plastic pollution, underscoring the urgency of adopting effective solutions to one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time.
The plenary was chaired by Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador, who emphasized the need to accelerate the negotiation process while acknowledging the socio-economic challenges faced by countries. Nevertheless, he highlighted that addressing plastic pollution also presents significant opportunities for long-term sustainable economic benefits.
During the session, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), delivered a strong call to action to end plastic pollution. She stressed the importance of reducing the use of harmful materials and promoting circular design principles, urging negotiators to demonstrate determination and cooperation—particularly in defining a clear mandate for intersessional work.
Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted his country’s financial commitments to international initiatives such as the Global Plastic Action Partnership and the World Bank’s PROBLUE Fund. He also underscored the importance of strengthening political dialogue and consensus-building through mechanisms such as the Host Country Alliance.
Meanwhile, Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Secretariat, reminded participants of the ambitious timeline established under UNEA Resolution 5/14. She encouraged flexibility and collaboration in developing a Revised Draft Text that reflects the diverse perspectives of all Member States, emphasizing the need to avoid postponing difficult decisions until the final stages of the negotiations.
Key discussions on national plans and implementation
During the plenary, several countries stressed the urgent need for National Action or National Implementation Plans, prompting discussions on terminology and the degree of flexibility required based on national circumstances. Proposals included allowing each Party to determine the content of its plans or establishing general guidance through the Conference of the Parties (COP).
On implementation and compliance, delegations agreed on the importance of streamlining options toward a facilitative, non-punitive mechanism that respects national sovereignty. Proposals included naming the body the “Implementation and Cooperation Committee” and introducing majority-voting rules in cases where consensus cannot be reached.
Women’s Major Group intervention
The Women’s Major Group (WMG) took the floor during the afternoon plenary session, with Co-Chair Dalia Márquez delivering the group’s official statement. The intervention was well received by several Member States.
The statement reflects the collective perspectives, positions, and concerns of the WMG and its members. It was developed through an inclusive process: the draft was shared with the full WMG membership, comments were received over a 24-hour period, and the final version was subsequently consolidated.
Structure of the Contact Groups
As part of the organization of technical negotiations, the structure of the Contact Groups was confirmed as follows:
Contact Group 1 (Palau – Germany)
Three subgroups:
- CG 1.1 (Egypt – United Kingdom):
Part I (Elements 1–5) and Part II (Elements 12 and 13 bis). - CG 1.2 (Brazil – Norway):
Part II (Elements 1, 2, 3 and 3 bis) and Part IV (Elements 4, 4 bis, 5, 6, 9 b, 10 e and 13). - CG 1.3 (Colombia – Saudi Arabia):
Part II (Elements 7, 8, 9 e, 10 b and 11).
Contact Group 2 (Australia – Ghana)
Two subgroups:
- CG 2.1 (Uganda – Portugal):
Part III (Elements 1 and 2). - CG 2.2 (France – Indonesia):
Part IV (Elements 1–8 bis), Part V (Elements 1–3), and Part VI.
Negotiations will continue through Sunday, April 28, marking a critical phase in advancing toward a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.