GATINEAU, QC, April 18,
2024 /CNW/ - Plastic pollution is everywhere in the
environment, travelling beyond national borders, posing a risk to
wildlife, and damaging ecosystems. Plastic production and waste is
set to triple by 2060, and up to 37 million metric tons of plastic
pollution could be entering our oceans every year by 2040. This is
leaving a legacy of environmental impacts for future generations.
Plastic pollution costs more than $2
trillion every year, a burden that is largely held by local
communities. Without new and effective control measures, and
increased international cooperation, the global plastic pollution
crisis will intensify.
Next week, from April 23 to April
29, Canada will welcome the
world to Ottawa for the fourth
session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) at
the Shaw Centre to advance the development a global agreement on
plastic pollution by the end of 2024. During the conference, the
Canadian delegation, led by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will convene with
international partners from around the world to help drive ambition
and alignment on addressing plastic pollution.
INC-4 is the fourth negotiating session of five sessions being
coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme. INC-4
represents the penultimate moment to unite the world around a
shared goal to end plastic pollution.
Canada is kicking off the
session with a series of events organized in partnership with the
World Wide Fund for Nature. On April
21, Minister Guilbeault will host a meeting of the alliance
of INC host countries—Canada, Uruguay, France, Kenya, and the Republic of Korea—to discuss
shared objectives in the INC process. He will then meet with
several ministers and high-level representatives to continue
building the political momentum for an ambitious outcome.
On April 22, coinciding with Earth
Day under the theme "Planet vs. Plastics", the Minister will
co-host a high-level Partnerships Day, which will include
action-oriented discussions with ministers, Indigenous peoples,
youth, civil society, all levels of government, and the private
sector to accelerate efforts to beat plastic pollution.
Negotiation sessions will start on April
23, where countries will continue to work through the
possible scope, wording, and mechanisms, including financial tools,
to include in the new legally binding treaty on plastic pollution.
No final agreement is anticipated at INC-4; however, it is the
critical point to build the foundations for a successful conclusion
to the negotiations at INC-5 in the Republic of Korea later this
year.
Canada has taken many actions
to address the growing global challenge of plastic pollution,
including the launch of the Ocean Plastics Charter during
Canada's 2018 G7 Presidency, the
introduction of a domestic ban on harmful single-use plastics, the
implementation of its comprehensive plan to reduce plastic waste
and pollution, and its move toward a circular plastics economy.
Canada is also an inaugural member
of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, a group of
more than 60 countries representing every United Nations region,
with the goal to end plastic pollution by 2040 and develop an
ambitious and effective global agreement.
Canada looks forward to
collaborating with all nations to drive substantial progress in our
united goal to end plastic pollution.
Quotes
"We have a historic opportunity to tackle the global plastics
crisis at INC-4 in Canada. The
rate at which we are all consuming plastics is simply
unsustainable, and it is only by rallying together that we can
solve it. We are taking some big steps at home to cut the amount of
plastics that go into landfills and the environment, but tackling
this problem can't happen without a global solution. Canadians and
people around the world want to see their leaders come to INC-4 to
make real progress on ending plastic pollution by 2040."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change
Quick facts
- Minister Guilbeault will also be meeting with representatives
from provinces, territories, and Indigenous organizations to
discuss Canada's unique challenges
and opportunities to collectively tackle plastic pollution,
including in the marine environment.
- Throughout negotiations, Canada will reinforce the urgent need to
conclude negotiations this year, reiterate the shared consensus
among countries to end plastic pollution, advance progress on key
aspects of the treaty, advocate for a mandate for intersessional
work between negotiating sessions, and continue to be a strong
voice for inclusivity in the INC process.
- In 2022, Canada and all other
United Nations member states agreed at the resumed fifth session of
the United Nations Environment Assembly to establish the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with the mandate to develop
a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution by the end
of 2024.
- At the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
in February 2024, Canada hosted a ministerial meeting and formed
the INC Host Country Alliance alongside Uruguay, France, Kenya, and the Republic of Korea. Host Country
Alliance members expressed their shared commitment to conclude
negotiations by the end of 2024.
- Canada is taking action to
reduce plastic waste and pollution and help Canadians move toward a
circular economy through its comprehensive Government of
Canada plan. Canada is also working with provinces and
territories to implement the shared Canada-Wide Strategy on Zero
Plastic Waste and Action Plan that addresses the entire life cycle
of plastics to keep plastic in the economy and out of the
environment.
- To ensure INC-4 is inclusive, equitable, and meaningful,
Canada is also hosting a Plastic
Action Zone at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from April 23 to
April 29.
- The Plastic Action Zone offers a separate space for partners
and stakeholders to share actions, innovations, and experiences to
help drive ambition and prevent plastic waste and pollution
throughout the life cycle of plastics. Registration for members of
the public to attend events in the Plastic Action Zone is available
online.
- The 2024 theme for Earth Day, "Planet vs. Plastics", calls to
advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics,
rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a
strong global agreement on plastic pollution, and demand an end to
fast fashion.
- The fifth and final planned INC session (INC-5) will take place
from November 25 to December 1, 2024,
in Busan, Republic of Korea.
Associated links
- Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4)
- INC-4 Media Accreditation
- Call to Action – Host Country Alliance
- High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution
- Plastic Action Zone
- Ocean Plastics Charter
- Canada's Zero Plastic Waste
Agenda
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada