Register HERE for the virtual press briefing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United Nations will host the fourth round of negotiations (INC-4) for an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on plastic pollution, widely known as the “global plastics treaty,” from April 23-29 in Ottawa, Canada. The agreement aims to curb the global plastic pollution crisis, of which the ocean often bears the brunt.

Ocean Conservancy invites members of the media to join a virtual press briefing and Q&A session on the treaty negotiations with a panel of scientists and policy experts from the U.S. and Canada.

The expert panelists will discuss:

• The status of the negotiations and the press logistics to follow the negotiations remotely or in-person;
• What we’re watching for: source reduction, microplastics, chemical recycling;
• The role of the United States – the number one producer of plastic waste globally; and more.

Panelists include Dr. Anja Brandon, Ocean Conservancy’s Associate Director of U.S. Plastics Policy; Dr. Alexis Jackson, Associate Director of the California Oceans Program for The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Assistant Professor of Aquatic Ecology at University of Toronto; and Felipe Victoria, Senior Manager, Multilateral Affairs, International Policy for Ocean Conservancy.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Dr. Anja Brandon

Dr. Anja Brandon serves as Ocean Conservancy’s Associate Director of U.S. Plastics Policy, working to advance plastic policy solutions at the state and federal level. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, she served in the office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley as the lead policy advisor on issues including plastics, oceans, and water. She earned her doctorate in environmental engineering at Stanford University, focused on understanding plastic waste management challenges and developing novel methods to break down common plastics. In addition to being an invited speaker at national conferences including for the National Recycling Coalition, AMERIPEN, American Sustainable Business Council, National Stewardship Action Council and National Society of Journalists, Dr. Brandon has been an invited lecturer teaching about plastic pollution and policy solutions at universities including Stanford, Oregon State University and Bennington College.

Dr. Alexis Jackson

Dr. Alexis Jackson is the Ocean Policy and Plastics Lead for the California Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. There she leads a cross-functional team focused on reducing plastics pollution and oversees the California Oceans Team’s ocean policy and management portfolio, engaging on topics from restoring coastal marine habitats to advancing sustainable fisheries management and promoting island resilience. She played an integral role in helping draft, negotiate, and advocate for passage of California’s landmark single-use plastics legislation (Senate Bill 54). Previous to TNC, Alexis worked at The Pew Charitable Trusts and NOAA Fisheries engaging in domestic and international fisheries policy around highly migratory species. She was appointed to serve on the California Ocean Protection Council and the Board of Trustees for the California Ocean Science Trust. Alexis is a sixth generation Californian and holds a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University and a Masters and Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz.

Dr. Chelsea Rochman

Dr. Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor in Ecology at University of Toronto and co-founder of the U of T Trash Team. She is also a Scientific Advisor to the Ocean Conservancy. Chelsea has been working on the topic of plastic pollution for 15 years, and has won awards for her research – e.g., Sloan Research Fellowship, NSERC Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship. Chelsea received her PhD in Ecology from UC Davis and San Diego State University. In addition to her research, Chelsea routinely advises local, federal and international governmental bodies on policies related to plastic pollution.

Felipe Victoria

Felipe is the Senior Manager of Multilateral Affairs, International Policy for Ocean Conservancy. In this role, he leads international policy work with multilateral bodies and international governments, across a wide array of marine pollution and conservation issues, including the international legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution. Felipe joined Ocean Conservancy after spending over five years with the United Nations in New York. There, his portfolio included issues under the UN Economic and Social Chamber (ECOSOC), the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), and other UN System-related organizations and fora. Felipe has a Spanish Law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, a master’s in diplomacy and international relations and a specialized diploma in EU Law and Institutions from the Spanish Diplomatic School. He also holds a master’s degree in international trade and business management from the Menendez Pelayo International University of Spain and the Spanish Ministry of Economy.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY 

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.