— GENEVA, 1 DECEMBER, 2018
Marine plastic pollution is an urgent and growing global problem. Together with WWF, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), and the Environmental Investigation Agency, we are bringing together world leading experts and civil society organizations from across the world to explore, discuss and design the global response needed to combat the plastic pollution of our oceans.
THE PROBLEM
Every year about 8 millions tonnes of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans, the equivalent of dumping one garbage truck of waste every minute. Plastic pollution spreads across the world’s oceans and affects wildlife, contaminates fish stocks, and degrades the natural habitat. It also poses a growing potential hazard to both livelihoods and human health. Marine plastic pollution is a classic example of an inter – national coordination problem that requires a global response. It is a problem that requires a new legally binding international treaty.
THE EXPERT MEETING ON MARINE PLASTIC
The world’s governments have started to discuss the nature of such a response under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Assembly. The UNEA Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics will meet in Geneva on the 3rd to 7th of December and there is a potential for significant progress to be made by the upcoming fourth session of UNEA, in March 2019.
WHY A CIVIL SOCIETY MEETING ON MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION?
Progress towards a new treaty will not happen by itself, and we believe the role of civil society will be key in driving this process forward. This is why NAIL, in collaboration with WWF, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), is planning a full day civil society forum in the lead-up to the meeting of the Expert Group. We are bringing together world leading experts and civil society organizations from across the world to explore, discuss and design the global response needed to combat the plastic pollution of our oceans. We would like you to be part of this global civil society movement.
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
09:30-10:00 Registration, coffee and snacks
10:00-10:30 SETTING THE STAGE
Welcome and opening remarks
10:30-11:15 SESSION 1: PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN
What is the status of the problem? What are the projections for the future?
11:30-13:00 SESSION 2: A GLOBAL RESPONSE TO A GLOBAL PROBLEM
Why is a new legally binding international treaty needed? Would such a treaty have an impact?
13:00-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:00 SESSION 3: THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
What can civil society do to promote a new treaty? What lessons can be learned from other processes?
15:15-16:45 SESSION 4: THE EXPERT GROUP AND THE ROAD TO UNEA-4
What to expect from the upcoming meeting of the Ad-Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group (3-7 Dec)? How should civil society work to promote the goal
of a new legally binding treaty?
16:45-17:00 Closing
VENUE
Club de la Presse (Route de Ferney 106), Geneva, Switzerland
FORMAT
Expert presentations, panel debates, breakout groups, stage interviews, and more.
SPEAKERS
• Karen Raubenheimer, University of Wollongong and lead author of UN Environment’s assessment
of the current global framework
• Linda Finska, University of Tromsø
• Tim Grabiel, Environment Investigation Agency
• Chris Sherrington, Eunomia
• Imogen P Ingram, Island Sustainability Alliance CIS Incl
…among others!
REGISTRATION
Please register by filling the Registration Form by November 23, 2018. Participation at the meeting is free of charge. Refreshments will be served.