Ninh Binh, 26 July 2024 – Today, a technical workshop titled “Bridging Perspectives Towards theGlobal Plastic Treaty” was held to gather multi-stakeholder inputs on critical aspects of theGlobal Plastic Treaty (GPT) in preparation for Viet Nam’s participation in the intersessionalmeeting and the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5). Theevent brought together over 70 representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment, alongside other government ministries, members of the Viet Nam delegation,enterprises, associations, international organizations, domestic and international experts, anddevelopment partners within the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) network in VietNam.
At the recent INC-4 session held in April, it was decided to establish two expert groups to study critical aspects of the Negotiation. The first ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group has a particular focus on financial mechanisms. The second group will delve into both criteria-based and non-criteria-based approaches related to plastics products and chemicals. Additionally, this group will evaluate the design, recyclability, and applicability of plastic products. Co-chaired by international experts, these two groups are anticipated to pave the way for highly practical discussions at the upcoming INC-5 session, which will take place in November in Busan, South Korea. INC-5 is anticipated to be the final negotiation round aimed at establishing the first legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution.
According to Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department – MONRE, “The developments and outcomes of the negotiations in Canada demonstrate that organizing the ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group meetings is a crucial step in addressing the diverse viewpoints on various issues, in preparation for the INC-5 Conference in Busan. Although these group meetings are not official negotiation sessions, the discussions and agreements reached will significantly contribute to shaping the future global agreement.”
Photo 1: Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department – MONRE
Ms. Quach Thi Xuan, representing the Pacific Environment (PE), emphasized “As the negotiation period draws to a close, there remain significant differences in viewpoints on various aspects of the draft Treaty. Achieving consensus at the upcoming INC-5 necessitates that all parties clarify their approaches to each issue. Additionally, it is crucial for the Treaty to establish a unified set of criteria for determining control measures. During the recent workshop, experts from PE presented ecological design criteria to stakeholders, with a particular focus on enhancing the reuse and recycling of plastic products and packaging. PE Viet Nam continues to steadfastly support domestic experts in researching the necessary criteria within the framework of the draft Treaty. This ongoing effort aims to provide timely and valuable reference information to bolster Viet Nam’s negotiation team.”
Photo 2: Ms. Quach Thi Xuan, representing the Pacific Environment (PE)
Mr. Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident of UNDP Viet Nam, added “Hazardous chemicals in plastics can affect human health and ecosystems. It is important that the treaty provides an effective and legally-binding basis for phasing out hazardous chemicals in plastic products, with clear timelines and targets to provide industries with the necessary time to prepare and transition, ensuring a systematic and manageable shift towards safer alternatives and encouraging the development of sustainable practices. UNDP is committed to providing technical support to the Viet Nam delegation to participate in the upcoming intersessional meeting and INC-5.”
At the technical workshop, Viet Nam’s delegation showcased its readiness for effective participation in the forthcoming expert group meetings through lively discussions on the outcomes of the INC-4 negotiations and identification of key areas for deeper consideration. The workshop addressed various aspects within the framework of the Global Plastics Treaty, interweaving domestic and international perspectives. Notable topics included concerns about chemicals in plastic products, focusing on challenges and solutions related to problematic chemicals and unnecessary plastic products; product design strategies to enhance recyclability and reusability; and the protection of human health in the context of the Global Plastics Treaty. Additionally, the workshop explored financial mechanisms for implementing the Treaty, presenting potential scenarios for Viet Nam’s participation in future negotiations.
To provide the delegation with diverse perspectives, the workshop featured distinguished speakers, including representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Health, WWF-Viet Nam, UNDP Viet Nam, Healthcare Without Harm (HCWH) Southeast Asia, FHI 360, The Circulate Initiative, the representative from the Financial Coordination Group, who also serves as the co-chair of Expert Group 1, in addition to business representatives such as PepsiCo and international organizations such as the World Bank.
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