The Coalition of the Willing is clear: An unambitious treaty text is not, and cannot ever be an option

Posted on: 3 December 2024

INC-5 was suspended in the early hours of Monday morning, without a treaty text being agreed. It would be easy to conclude that the week had been a failure;...

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A new way forward: Pressure builds at INC-5

Posted on: 28 November 2024

Delegates arrived at Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO) on Thursday morning to the news that the Chair has taken control of the process. No longer willing to sit...

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We’ve heard this before: Progress stalls after three days at INC-5

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After three days of negotiations, where the sense of déjà vu has sometimes been overwhelming, convergence has been in short supply, and significant work is needed to deliver an...

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After initial disagreement, countries agree on a path forward as INC-5 kicks off

Posted on: 27 November 2024

Day 1 of the final round of plastic treaty negotiations saw old rivalries coming to the fore, with countries impatient for progress towards a high-ambition treaty and the like-minded...

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Delegates gather in Busan for INC-5 with a clear mission but uncertainty about how it can be achieved

Posted on: 25 November 2024

Today, talks resume in the UN negotiations to forge the first global treaty on plastics. Sam Winton is there to report on every stage of what promises to be...

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INC-4 concludes with late night crisis talks delivering a mandate for intersessional work but at a significant cost

Posted on: 1 May 2024

The fourth round of UN global plastics treaty negotiations reach a disappointing end. While some progress was made, the chance of delivering an ambitious treaty by the end of...

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Line by line negotiations commence as the clock ticks down on INC-4

Posted on: 29 April 2024

With the end of INC-4 in sight, progress is slowed by delaying tactics to avoid discussing upstream measures and caps on plastic production.

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Progress being made but delegates are beginning to feel the effects of long hours

Posted on: 28 April 2024

Fatigue is setting in at the fourth round of the UN plastic treaty talks as detailed discussions on the treaty provisions stretch late into the night. Japan even plays...

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Substantive discussions commence but deep divisions are present on many provisions of the text

Posted on: 26 April 2024

Sam Winton reflects on days two and three of INC-4 talks where delegates have clashed over the merits of mandatory vs voluntary extended producer responsibility.

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Early battle lines drawn but the afternoon brings progress as INC-4 kicks off

Posted on: 24 April 2024

The opposing views of the high ambition coalition and lower ambition countries dominate the start of proceedings, but there are promising signs of progress. Sam Winton reflects on the...

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Delegates arrive in Ottawa as for INC-4 with a clear need for urgent progress in the negotiations

Posted on: 23 April 2024

As negotiations to agree a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution resume, Sam Winton returns to provide on-the-spot insights from INC-4.

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As INC-3 closed, the ‘Nairobi Spirit’ faltered and Members are now forced to address the elephant in the room

Posted on: 20 November 2023

Intersessional work is blocked in a disappointing end to INC-3 negotiations for a global plastics treaty.

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Contact Groups overrun as the clock ticks down on INC-3

Posted on: 19 November 2023

On the final day of contact groups, time is running out for compiling amendments to the zero draft and a vote to allow vital intersessional work to pave the...

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When one paragraph became four – Revised Zero Draft text released with significant streamlining needed

Posted on: 18 November 2023

Day 5 of the INC-3 talks in Nairobi to build the first global plastic treaty saw momentum lost to delays and procedural difficulties due to the sheer volume of...

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Significant work still to be done, but the ‘Nairobi Spirit’ brings progress

Posted on: 17 November 2023

The INC-3 UN Plastics treaty negotiations in Nairobi are reaching a critical point, with majority consensus on many key issues and opposition from small but implacable groups of delegates...

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Areas of consensus and divergence becoming clear at INC-3

Posted on: 16 November 2023

On Day 3 of INC-3, delegates divided into contact groups to discuss key elements of a global plastics treaty. While there are areas of consensus, significant divergence persists on...

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Substantive discussions get underway at INC-3

Posted on: 15 November 2023

In depth discussions began on the second day of INC-3, including on the critical question of how the implementation of the plastics treaty will be funded. Sam Winton offers...

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INC-3 declared open

Posted on: 14 November 2023

With areas of consensus and contention already emerging, Sam Winton summarises the key developments in the first day of INC-3 negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya.

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INC-3 events kick off in force

Posted on: 13 November 2023

Researcher Sam Winton comments on the opening weekend and preparatory meeting of INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya.

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A view from inside the UN Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations INC-3

Posted on: 10 November 2023

Researcher Sam Winton provides an insider’s view of the negotiations as INC-3 progresses in Nairobi, Kenya.

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One-stop policy shop opens, with solutions to end plastic pollution

Posted on: 18 July 2022

An invaluable new resource to help tackle plastic pollution on land and in the ocean is going live today. The Global Plastics Policy Centre (GPPC) online platform is the latest...

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