At its fourth session (INC-4), the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, decided to establish two ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert groups:
Expert Group 1
An ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group to develop an analysis of potential sources, and means that could be mobilized, for implementation of the objectives of the instrument, including options for the establishment of a financial mechanism, alignment of financial flows, and catalysing finance, for the consideration by the Committee at INC-5. The expert group will be co-chaired by Ms. Kate Lynch of Australia and Mr. Oliver Boachie of Ghana.
Expert Group 2
An ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group to identify and analyse criteria and non criteria based approaches regarding plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastic products, and product design focusing on recyclability and reusability of plastic products, considering their uses and applications, for the consideration by the Committee at INC-5. The expert group will be co-chaired by Mr. Axel Borchmann of Germany, Ms. Gwen Sisior of Palau, and Mr. Luay Almukhtar of Iraq.
More information available in this Concept Note (Version 07 June 2024) including the Annex: Decision on Intersessional work at INC-4.
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Submit nomination of Experts
State Members of the United Nations, members of United Nations specialized agencies and regional economic integration organizations are invited to submit their nominations to the Secretariat by way of a single Note Verbale or formal letter with all the nominations. The Note Verbale or letter should clearly indicate the name of the nominated expert(s), their title, affiliation, contact information, and the expert group to which each expert is nominated.
The deadline for nominations is 04 July 2024, 23:59 East Africa Time.
The nomination must be done through Indico. The Indico link was circulated to all delegations in an invitation letter from the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, dated 30 May 2024. The letter was circulated to nominated INC Focal Points and Permanent Missions accredited to UNEP.
In-person meeting: 24 - 28 August 2024
The in-person expert groups meeting is scheduled to take place at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand from 24 to 28 August 2024. The expert groups meeting will be conducted in English only.
The in-person meeting will be complemented by up to three virtual meetings per expert group. This will include an online preparatory meeting per group ahead of the in-person meeting to facilitate planning and common understanding on organization of work and expected outcomes, and provide a logistical update by the Secretariat.
To ensure efficient and consistent work of the groups, it is strongly encouraged that the nominated experts participate throughout the entire process of the expert groups.
For more information, please consult the Information Note to participants.
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Registration
Registration for States Members of the United Nations, members of United Nations specialized agencies and regional economic integration organizations for the ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert groups meetings is open.
The deadline for registrations is 04 July 2024, 23:59 East Africa Time.
Each nominated expert must register individually through INDICO. The registration link is not in the public domain and was circulated to all delegations in Annex A of the invitation letter from the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, dated 30 May 2024. The letter and respective annexes were circulated to the nominated INC Focal Points and Permanent Missions accredited to UNEP.
Each expert designated to attend the in-person meeting must register individually. The following documentation will need to be uploaded by the nominated experts in INDICO at the time of the registration:
- Copy of the Note Verbale or official letter with the list of experts nominated to participate in the respective ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert groups meeting.
- A passport-size colour photograph (with white, grey, or neutral colour background).
- The passport biographical page.
Please note that the review and verification process is not automatic and can take up to a few days.
The experts designated to receive travel support are encouraged to apply for travel support as soon as possible but no later than 04 July 2024, 23:59 East Africa Time. The process is described in Annex A of the letter of the Executive Secretary.
Please be informed that the registration for the in-person meetings of the ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert groups and the application for travel support are two separate processes and delegates must have their registration approved before submitting their request for travel support.
Contacts
INC Secretariat: unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org
Registration enquiries: unep-incplastic.registration@un.org
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