WASHINGTON – The United Nations will host the fifth and last scheduled round of negotiations (INC-5) for an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on plastic pollution, widely known as the “global plastics treaty,” from November 25-December 1, 2024 in Busan, South Korea. The agreement aims to curb the global plastic pollution crisis, of which the ocean often bears the brunt.

As an official U.N. observer organization, Ocean Conservancy experts have been deeply involved throughout the negotiation process to develop the plastics treaty. Ocean Conservancy’s five priorities for the treaty are to secure plastics source reduction; address lost or abandoned plastic fishing and aquaculture gear, also known as ghost gear; address microplastics, both those that are intentionally created small like cosmetic beads as well as those that break down from larger plastics; incorporate measures to incentivize designing plastics for reuse and recyclability; and recognize the informal waste collection sector as a critical voice.

This round of negotiations will determine if a final agreement will be reached – with a ratification of the agreement next year – or if the timeline is extended.

Earlier this month, a document being put forward as the likely basis for negotiations at INC-5 (known as the non-paper) was circulated to hundreds of stakeholders and notably backtracked on many key elements that were included in past negotiations such as the inclusion of provisions to address ghost gear and reduce plastic production. In response, Nicholas Mallos, Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Plastics, issued a statement, noting that “while the non-paper is disappointing… [and] the ambition that we all dreamed and spoke of in earlier negotiations is absent from this new document… there’s still time to right the ship.”

With the negotiations coming less than a month after the presidential election in the U.S. and questions arising on how the incoming administration may impact the plastics treaty, Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Plastics Policy, Dr. Anja Brandon said, “Nearly four in five Americans consider plastic pollution entering the ocean to be a pressing problem, so while we cannot predict what the incoming administration will do, we know for certain that the American people want action on this issue. We hope the new administration hears that call. In the meantime, we urge the Biden administration to advocate for the strongest plastics treaty possible in Busan, because what hasn’t changed is the urgency of the plastic pollution crisis and the need for ambitious action.”

Ocean Conservancy experts are available to discuss:

• Plastics treaty outlook and processes
• Plastics reduction
• Plastics science
• Ghost gear
• U.S. plastics policy
• Microplastics

If you want to set up an interview with one of our plastics treaty experts, please contact Roya Fox at [email protected] or 1.202.280.6285.

Side events including Ocean Conservancy experts:

• Fishing Gear Across Asia Pacific – Pollution and Solutions

Tuesday, Nov 26 from 1-2PM at BEXCO 2, Room 122

• Recycling Unpackaged: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Never Will

Tuesday, Nov 26 from 2:30PM at BEXCO 2, Room 123

• Reinforcing Commitments to Nature and Communities: Options to include Biodiversity in the future Global Plastics Treaty

Wednesday, Nov 27 from 12-1:30PM at BEXCO 2, Room 321–322

• Policy to Practice: Best Practices for Managing Plastic Fishing and Aquaculture Gear

Thursday, Nov 28 from 9:30-12PM at BEXCO 2, Room 321-322

• The Future of Biopolymers: A Viable Alternative

Thursday, Nov 28 from 12-1:30PM at BEXCO 2, Room 321-322

• Shaping the Future of Global Collaboration through the Plastic Treaty: International Coastal Cleanups and Citizen Science

Thursday, Nov 28 from 2-3:30PM at BEXCO Exhibition Center 2, Room 323 (3F)

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Nicholas Mallos

Nicholas Mallos is Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Plastics at Ocean Conservancy, where he oversees the organization’s global portfolio of work on ocean plastic pollution including the International Coastal Cleanup®️, U.S. and international plastics policy, and scientific research. Since joining Ocean Conservancy in 2010, he’s conducted research around the world on all aspects of (ocean) plastic pollution from the North Pacific Gyre to the remote coastlines of Alaska, the Philippines and Saint Helena. He’s had the great fortune to work with incredible and inspiring people and organizations that are leading change in coastal and inland communities around the world. Nick has testified before the U.S. Senate on the sources and impacts of ocean plastics, and routinely participates in international policy discussions at UNEP, APEC and other global forums. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Marine Debris Foundation and holds degrees from Dickinson College and Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. He is based in Portland, Ore.

Dr. Anja Brandon

Dr. Anja Brandon serves as Ocean Conservancy’s Director of 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.

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.

Hannah Pragnell-Raasch

As Global Policy Lead for Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Hannah provides technical guidance and expertise for GGGI’s policy and advocacy work, including working with government members on their national and international policies for managing fishing and aquaculture gear and leading roundtables, plastics treaty work, and speaking engagements at high-level policy events.  Hannah holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Marine Biology and Master of Science with Distinction in Biodiversity Conservation and brings with her over 12 years of experience working in international policy and marine conservation. Prior to her role with the GGGI, Hannah spent eight years with the PADI AWARE Foundation (formerly Project AWARE) leading their global Clean Ocean Strategy to advance solutions for addressing marine pollution including international policy, scientific research and managing the organization’s global citizen science program to yield data regarding types and quantities of seafloor marine debris.

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.