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), is scheduled to take place from 13 to 19 November 2023 at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The session will be preceded by regional consultations on 12 November 2023 as well as a preparatory one-day meeting will take place on 11 November 2023, at the same venue.
During INC-3, negotiations will focus on the “Zero” draft text of the international legally binding instrument, available here in the six UN official languages. All official INC-3 documentation is available at the following link.
The International Science Council at the INC-3
The International Science Council (ISC) has facilitated the participation of experts in INC-1 and INC-2 championing integrated scientific inputs into the multifaceted challenges related to plastic pollution. For INC-3, the ISC has developed a new policy brief to guide the current negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution. The brief aims to advance a science-based approach ensuring the instrument is based on the latest and best scientific evidence available.

Policy Brief: Creating a Strong Interface between Science, Policy and Society to Tackle Global Plastic Pollution
International Science Council, 2023. ISC Policy Brief: Creating a strong interface between science, policy and society to tackle global plastic pollution. Paris, International Science Council. https://council.science/publications/plastic-pollution-policy-brief/
💻 You can follow all the nogotiations live at: https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/webcast.
Side-event – Existing plastic pollution: Challenges of SIDs and remote communities
Existing plastic pollution: Challenges of SIDs and remote communities
Friday 17 November (13:30 – 14:45 EAT )
- Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to our environment and the well-being of communities worldwide. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and remote communities face unique challenges in addressing plastic pollution. They are often affected disproportionately by plastic pollution due to their geographical isolation, limited resources, and compounded exposure to other planetary crises. INC-3 offers a timely platform to address these pressing concerns and seek collaborative solutions to address the challenges, needs, and leadership role of SIDS and remote communities for an ambitious, inclusive and equitable international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on plastic pollution. This side event at INC-3 aims to shed light on the existing plastic pollution issues in vulnerable regions and explore practical strategies to mitigate its impact. It seeks to engage diverse stakeholders, including representatives from SIDS, academia, NGOs, and grassroots organizations, in a constructive dialogue that can lead to meaningful action and global cooperation.
ISC Delegation and Community at the INC-3.

Chief Conservation and Science Officer
Monterey Bay Aquarium
ISC co-Chair of International Science Council’s working group on plastic pollution

Kishore Boodhoo
Lecturer
University of Mauritius