Morocco stressed on November 14 in Nairobi the importance of accessibility, sustainability, and predictability of funds in the implementation of the international legally binding Instrument to combat plastic pollution.
Intervening at the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (INC–3), underway until November 19 at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Moroccan delegation stressed that unless the dedicated funds are accessible, sustainable, and predictable, “implementation of the Instrument will not be possible”.
Morocco’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the Programme, Siham Mourabit, noted that Morocco is in favor of implementing a mechanism for a dedicated fund, which includes financial resources from all sources, without affecting the possibility of resorting to already existing environmental funds.
During a contact group meeting on the subject of means of implementation, Mourabit explained that this approach is likely to support capacity building and technology transfer and will enable the full implementation of the proposed instrument by developing countries.
Morocco, which is actively participating in the negotiation process at this third session, is also taking part in meetings of the contact group responsible for examining the instrument’s objectives, obligations, and control measures.
The Moroccan delegation had previously insisted on the imperative of a global approach in the elaboration of the said instrument, noting that this global approach must address all stages in the life cycle of plastics, from the extraction of raw materials to disposal, via production and consumption.
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution of March 2, 2022, entitled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument”, called on UNEP’s Executive Director to convene the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument to end plastic pollution, with the aim of completing its work by the end of 2024.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (INC–3) had previously convened for two sessions, between November 28 and December 2, 2022, in Punta del Este (Uruguay) and between May 29 and June 2, 2023, in Paris. Two further sessions are scheduled to take place in April 2024 in Ottawa (Canada) and in the second half of the same year in South Korea.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (INC–3) brought together representatives from 175 countries with the aim of progressing on the main elements of the future instrument, by examining, for the first time, a draft treaty published last September.
The Moroccan delegation participating in the event is led by the Moroccan Ambassador to Nairobi and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to UNEP, Abderrazzak Laassel.