By Cindy Matuch
Coastal Science and Policy Student, class of 2024
Photo: Cindy Matuch (center) with Margaret Spring (right), Chief Conservation and Science Officer from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Mary Ellen Ternes (left), Senior Fellow for Law and Policy from the Global Council for Science and the Environment.
Navigating the Waves of Change: My Journey at the Third Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations
As a Masters student in the Coastal Science and Policy program who is passionate about stopping plastic pollution, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3) which took place from November 13 to 19 2023 at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This blog reflects on my experiences, goals, and the invaluable lessons I learned during this crucial event.
Why Did I Attend INC-3?
During my graduate program, I am eager to understand the relationship between science and policy. Attending INC-3 allowed me to witness firsthand the collaborative effort needed to create a legally binding treaty that aims to protect human and environmental health from plastic pollution for future generations.
INC-3 marked a pivotal moment in the global efforts to combat plastic pollution. With only five negotiating sessions planned to craft a treaty and countries poised to sign the treaty in 2025, each meeting is a crucial step toward a collective commitment. What made INC-3 particularly unique was the availability of a draft text of the treaty for countries to discuss – an unprecedented milestone compared to the two previous meetings.
Photo: Cindy Matuch (right) standing with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the International Science delegations.These two organizations brought together scientists to attend INC-3.
How the Treaty Negotiations Fit in with My Capstone Goals
As a graduate student who was initially trained as a scientist, my goal for my capstone is to understand how science is used in policymaking. For my capstone project, I have the privilege of working with Margaret Spring, Chief Conservation and Science Officer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a champion in the plastic pollution science-policy space. Our collaboration aims to ensure that an effective instrument on plastic pollution is informed by and responsive to the best available and most up-to-date scientific evidence and knowledge. Therefore, our goal for this meeting was to establish formal platforms for independent science to be included in the discussions. In addition, my personal goal was to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the negotiations and side discussions. I sought to understand the intricacies of the treaty negotiations while also networking with an array of individuals to understand the landscape of stakeholder engagement.
Lessons Learned
- Messiness and Complexity of International Negotiations: INC-3 exposed me to the complexities and challenges of international negotiations. The varied impacts of plastic pollution on each country make the process inherently messy but extremely interesting. Crafting an equitable and responsive treaty to everyone’s unique needs requires delicate balancing.
- Equity in Treaty Development: The diverse impacts of plastic pollution underscore the importance of creating an equitable treaty. Recognizing that each country faces different challenges, it became evident that the treaty must address these discrepancies to be effective. It’s not just about addressing the problem but ensuring fairness in the solutions proposed.
- The Political Game: International negotiations on plastic pollution proved to be a political chessboard. Many countries are strategic, holding their cards close and revealing their positions only when the timing is optimal. The stakes are high, with plastic pollution being a triple planetary crisis impacting pollution, climate, and biodiversity loss. Countries that do not want an ambitious treaty were attempting to backtrack the treaty process to draw attention away from their fossil fuel interests, while the vast majority of nations were seeking a high-ambition treaty that focuses on the full lifecycle of plastic.
- Unforeseen Challenges in Scientific Integration: Despite the urgency of the plastic pollution issue, science is not at the forefront of the negotiations. I anticipated that incorporating independent scientific evidence into the negotiation process would be the first action to take. However, as the third meeting concludes, it’s clear that integrating independent scientific insights into the treaty development process has not yet been implemented. This realization underscores the need not to have scientists be observers in the treaty but to be included in the discussions.
Photo: Last day of INC-3 as delegations are working on how to move forward with the treaty negotiations.
Memorable Interactions
- Advocating for Science with the United States Delegation: During INC-3, I had the opportunity to engage with members of the United States Delegation, expressing the urgent need for science to be embedded into the plastic pollution treaty.
- Shaking Hands with the Romanian President: Being at the right spot at the right time, I found myself in the presence of the Romanian President. Seizing the moment, I extended a handshake and exchanged a few words. This unexpected encounter underscored the unpredictable nature of such international events and their unique opportunities for meaningful interactions.
Next Steps
As the curtains fall on INC-3, my journey in addressing plastic pollution takes a decisive step forward. Looking ahead, I am gearing up for the fourth session of the treaty negotiations (INC-4) scheduled to take place in Ottawa, Canada, in April 2024. Under the leadership of the new chair, Luis Vayas Valdivieso from Ecuador, we hope to see that science will be brought more strongly into the treaty processes.
With the lessons learned from INC-3, my focus will be on advocating for a more robust integration of science into the negotiation process. Recognizing the imperative role that science plays in crafting effective solutions, I am committed to contributing towards a treaty that is not only equitable but also firmly grounded in the best available scientific evidence.
Photo: Cindy Matuch standing next to UNEP Headquarters sign in Nairobi, Kenya. In Kenya, “Karibuni” translates to “welcome”.
Photo: Margaret Spring (left), Luis Vayas Valdivieso (center, incoming Chair for INC-4 from Ecuador), Cindy Matuch (right).
Photo: Jonathan Gillibrand, Senior Advisor of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (left); Cindy Matuch (right).
Photo: Meeting with scientists from around the world and the United Nations Environmental Programme.