Day 1: International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastics Pollution, including the Marine Environment

The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution started with a cultural program on November 28, 2022, in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The conference was formally inaugurated by Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary, INC Secretariat, following a stirring cultural performance by the Ballet Nacional de Sodre. The president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, expressed the hope that this gathering will be remembered as a catalyst for action to prevent plastic pollution. On the way to a treaty, he emphasized the value of knowledge, individual, corporate, and state accountability, as well as optimism.

Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNEP, reiterated that to build an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) addressing the lifecycle of plastic, there is a need for broad participation, science, stakeholder engagement, and innovative thinking. Adrián Peña, Minister of Environment, Uruguay, among others, highlighted the country’s new deposit-return scheme for plastic packaging.

Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Peru, as INC Chair, delegates then addressed two pressing procedural matters: the election of the INC bureau and the outstanding matters related to the rules of procedure.

ESDO’s Secretary-General, Dr. Shahriar Hossain, and Executive Director, Siddika Sultana, joined the meeting as a participating organization of IPEN and submitted a statement emphasizing the urgent need for a legally binding instrument.