During the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), the Women’s Major Group (WMG) took part in a high-level dialogue with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leadership, emphasizing the need to strengthen the formal recognition of Major Groups within the global process to end plastic pollution.
April 21, 2024 — As part of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to end plastic pollution, accredited observers participated in a high-level dialogue with senior representatives of the United Nations system.
The session brought together Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Luis Vallas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC; and Jyoti Mathur Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC.
During the session titled “Conversation with Observers,” Frezer, Co-Chair of the Women’s Major Group, delivered an intervention on behalf of the global women’s movement working to end plastic pollution.
In her remarks, Frezer highlighted that in other UNEP processes, Major Groups are formally recognized as such within participation mechanisms. However, within the INC process, this distinction is not maintained, as Major Groups are currently considered alongside other stakeholders and observers.
While acknowledging the concerns surrounding this approach, the Women’s Major Group called for exploring pathways to formally recognize Major Groups as Major Groups moving forward, in order to ensure more coherent, structured, and meaningful participation.
The Women’s Major Group reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive environmental governance and emphasized that the effective participation of women and civil society is essential to achieving an ambitious, equitable, and effective global treaty to end plastic pollution.