Resource productivity and waste

Agenda

Introduction

The OECD event "Towards an International Treaty on Plastics Pollution: Reflections on Selected Issues" contributed to the ongoing discussion on means of implementation, financing and trade, in the lead up to the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2) took place from 29 May to 2 June 2023 in Paris, France.

The extent and effects of plastic pollution differ significantly between countries, including their ability to tackle this issue in terms of financial resources and expertise, and well-thought-out approaches are needed to support developing countries in accelerating action to combat the plastic crisis. In addition, sound chemicals management is needed to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. This includes chemicals & polymers in plastics and ensuring robust chemicals management along value chains and across countries. Finally, there is the need to bring into focus the interplay between trade policies and the goal of ending plastic pollution, including at the level of plastic waste management, as well as deal with classification issues. Experts and panellists from participating organisations will come together to discuss ways to advance on the above issues, in the leadup to INC-2.

WATCH THE REPLAY

Welcome and high-level opening
 

• Opening remarks by Ms. Kerri-Ann Jones, Deputy Secretary General, OECD 

Session 1 - Mobilising resources to end plastic pollution: the costs and financing 
 

Moderator: Liz Nichols, Circular Economy and Environmental Finance, Foreign Affairs Office, US Deparment of State

Scene-setting presentation:

• Shardul Agrawala, Head of Environment and Economy Integration Division, OECD Environment Directorate and Jens Sedemund, Senior Policy Analyst, OECD Development Co-operation Directorate 

Panel interventions guided by moderator's questions:

• Oliver Boachie, Special Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science,Technology and Innovation, Ghana
• Hugo Schally, Adviser for international negotiations, Directorate General for the Environment, European Commission
• Eddy Mazuaansyah bin Mohd Ali Murad, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia 
• Anjali Acharya, Marine Plastics Lead, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank
• Umesh Madhavan, Research Director, The Circulate Initiative
• Krassimira Peicheva, Head of Group Environmental Management and Impact Reporting, Procredit Holding (UNEP Finance Initiative led Finance Leadership Group on Plastics)

Session 2 - Chemicals in plastics: leveraging principles of sustainable chemistry, sustainable design and the need for robust chemicals management systems

Moderator: Jo Tyndall, Director, OECD Environment Directorate

Presentations:

• Jacqueline Alvarez, Chief Chemicals and Health Branch, UN Environment Programme 
• Kei Ohno, Senior Coordination Officer, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
• Eeva Leinala, Principal Administrator, Chemical Risk Management, and Peter Börkey, Circular Economy Lead, OECD Environment Directorate

Oral remarks by discussants:

• Vito Buonsante, Technical and Policy Advisor, International Pollutants Elimination Network
• Piet Vermeersch, Sustainability Director, Plastics Europe

Session 3 - Managing plastic pollution in cross-border value chains
 

Moderator: Julia Nielson, Deputy Director, OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate

Presentation:

• Daniel Ramos, Legal Officer, Trade and Environment Division, World Trade Organisation, World Trade Organisation

Panel interventions:

• Rob Dellink, Senior Economist, OECD Environment Directorate
• Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Director, Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS)
• Soumyajit Kar, Specialist, Sustainable Trade and Resource Circularity, World Economic Forum
• Maria Daniela Garcia Freire, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the WTO

Closing remarks by Jo Tyndall, Director, OECD Environment Directorate