06 Dec 2022 --- The conclusion of the first intergovernmental committee meeting (INC-1) by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to negotiate the terms of an internationally legally binding plastics pollution treaty has brought both success and frustration to the aims of key stakeholder groups, ranging from major petrochemical producers to civil society advocates and NGOs. However, critics of the proceedings accuse the INC-1 of “dragging its feet” and failing to tackle several fundamental topics on the treaty’s formation over the coming two years. Establishing the “Rules of Procedure” – a document that will determine negotiating standards- was postponed until the INC-2 in May next year.
