QUNO’s Sustainable and Just Economic Systems programme, in partnership with Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd., has published the Phase 1 Report of their project titled Plastic Money: Turning Off the Subsidies Tap. This report represents a crucial step in uncovering the extensive subsidies received by the primary plastics polymer (PPP) production industry, a sector that plays a pivotal role in global plastic pollution. The report focuses on the subsidies provided to the most energy-intensive segment of the plastics production chain, from the processing of raw materials to the production of basic resins and their extrusion into plastic pellets. The study reveals that these subsidies are substantial, amounting to approximately USD 30 billion annually across the top 15 polymer-producing countries. This work is critical as it fills significant data gaps and provides a foundation for informed policy discussions at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, which is tasked with developing a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. The findings highlight the urgent need for better transparency and tracking of subsidies at both national and international levels. Supported by Dalberg Catalyst through grant funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, this collaborative effort between QUNO and Eunomia serves as a vital […]
As part of its quiet diplomacy efforts, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva recently hosted 22 diplomats and other stakeholders to discuss strategies towards ending plastic pollution. QUNO’s quiet diplomacy entails dialogue facilitation and gathers relevant stakeholders for off-the-record conversations that seek solutions to either conflicts or ongoing challenges in our focus areas. This gathering was jointly hosted by QUNO’s programme on Sustainable and Just Economic Systems (SJES) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — as seen in the photograph with this article — on 31 October 2023. Participants were from various national and international bodies and 12 attended in-person while 10 joined online. The atmosphere was dynamic and interactive as participants gathered at Quaker House under Chatham House Rules. This means they are all able to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of participants may be revealed, ensuring an open and honest dialogue. Participants focused mainly on the upcoming third meeting of the United Nations-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which is working towards an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, including the marine environment. The upcoming INC meeting — also known as INC-3 — is scheduled […]
Against the backdrop of Asia’s struggle with burgeoning plastic waste, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has published a new report that delves into the complex challenges and potential strategies for addressing this problem in the region. QUNO’s report, ‘Trade and Plastics — Fostering Sustainable Development in South East Asia’, was issued by its Sustainable and Just Economic Systems programme this month (November). It focuses on plastic pollution in Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam and highlights the pressing need for systemic changes. The report highlights the growing environmental threats and economic losses due to mismanaged waste. It also exposes the intricate interplay between trade policies and sustainable waste management practices. This critical study, conducted by experts from the University of Cambridge, transcends traditional discussions on plastic waste management. It underscores the urgent need to align strategies with the waste management hierarchy—emphasising reduction, reuse, and recycling—to combat the escalating crisis of plastic pollution and its socio-economic ramifications. This study is an essential call to action, urging the implementation of comprehensive policies that integrate waste hierarchy principles. It challenges the current linear economic model, stressing the importance of reducing plastic production, minimising single-use plastics, and promoting sustainable alternatives. Its authors navigate the […]
At its second session, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee requested the Secretariat to invite written submissions on (a) Elements not discussed at INC-2, such as principles and scope of the instrument (using Template A), and (b) Any potential areas for inter-sessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3 (using Template B). Recognizing that the adoption of subsidy disciplines within the forthcoming treaty would be a significant step forward for advocates pushing for upstream measures to tackle plastic pollution at its root cause, the Quaker United Nations Office partnered with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for its second submission to inform the work of INC-3. This submission addresses the pivotal issue of subsidies promoting plastic production. The document emphasizes: Defining the commitments' scope, particularly pinpointing which production stages should be considered. Recommending alignment with the World Trade Organization’s definition of a subsidy. Exploring methods to manage non-specific subsidies, such as those supporting energy use across diverse sectors. Advocating for the prohibition of all future subsidies that would further plastic production. This collaborative effort with IUCN aims to offer well-rounded guidance for INC-3's agenda concerning upstream plastic measures and core obligations.
In preparation for 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), taking place from November 13-19, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya, the INC Secretariat facilitated a series of technical webinars. Two of these sessions allowed observers to present submissions that could inform the committee's work. The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) submitted two contributions on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). Ronald Steenblik, Senior Technical Advisor for QUNO's Sustainable and Just Economic Systems (SJES) program, presented these submissions on August 29. The recording can be viewed [here – at 1:27:30]. The first submission emphasizes the significance of re-use and circular economic systems and underscored the necessity for innovative delivery systems to mitigate plastic pollution. In collaboration with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the second submission focuses on the issue of subsidies promoting plastic production. Key areas covered are: – Defining the scope of commitments, specifically which production stages should be included. – Recommending alignment with the World Trade Organization’s definition of a subsidy. – Discussing methods for managing non-specific subsidies, like those supporting energy use across various sectors. – Urging the […]
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