Excellencies and colleagues,
My thanks to the Governments of Kenya and Norway for organizing this event and for your commitment to advancing efforts on agreeing a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
At INC-5.2, the stakes were high and hopes higher to land a treaty text. However, we did not get the ending we had hoped for. Geopolitical complexities, economic challenges and multilateral strains created a difficult negotiating environment.
But this was not a definitive end, just the end of that session. And important progress was made after ten hard-fought days of diplomacy.
Delegations went deeper than ever into all areas of the text. We saw constructive proposals. Increased clarity of positions. Growing convergence on key elements of the treaty. Countries agreed to reconvene at a date to be announced. Most importantly, every country showed they want to end the environmental, economic and health impacts of plastic pollution. We are much closer to realizing the mandate given by the United Nations Environment Assembly.
Reaching a deal will not be easy. Divisions remain on scope, production, plastic products, finance and decision making. More work is needed on the balance between globally binding rules and national measures. And we need time. Just remember that comparable negotiations took far longer than the three years we have been going.
This event and wider exchanges taking place in New York are opportunities to listen and discuss next steps. The upcoming seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly will be another important moment of reflection.
This intersessional period must be used to narrow gaps. Critically, we now need a clear path that ensures that conditions for a meaningful outcome are put in place. This will have to include further dialogue between Members States to explore viable landing zones.
I therefore encourage countries to continue engaging with each other. Not just with groups they agree with. But with groups they do not agree with. That is how red lines and negotiating compromises may be found.
The continued engagement of observers is also critical to ensure legitimacy, transparency of the process and the effectiveness of the instrument.
I ask Member States to show persistence, patience and continued dialogue to find a way forward. UNEP is ready to support you as you work through the steps towards your stated intention of reconvening at a future negotiating session. And as you figure out the path forward, rest assured that UNEPs work on plastic pollution will continue.
Because plastic pollution is in nature, in our oceans, and in our bodies. Because the environmental, economic and health challenges will only continue to rise. And most of all because we can, together, beat plastic pollution.
