Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4)
April 23 to 29, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario
Canada recognizes that plastic pollution is a global crisis that needs urgent action. We are committed to taking ambitious action to end plastic pollution and reduce plastic waste.
In 2022, the international community committed to develop an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Canada has been actively involved in the development of this global agreement since then.
From April 23 to 29, 2024, Canada welcomed delegations, high-level representatives, partners, and stakeholders from around the world to Ottawa for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4). Through these negotiating committees, parties from 175 countries are continuing the ambitious work needed to reach this united goal.
As negotiations ran over to April 30th, Canada worked with all delegations to land an Ottawa Roadmap that confirms momentum to reach a global agreement by the end of 2024. Member states agreed to continue work on key topics between negotiating sessions, the adoption of a legal drafting group, and active contributions from Indigenous Peoples, civil society, academia, and business representatives.
During INC-4, Canada announced the creation of a Federal Plastics Registry that will provide reliable data to help track the production and life cycle of plastic in order to inform further action to reduce plastic waste and pollution. Canada also announced investments both at home and abroad to tackle plastic pollution and enable a circular economy.
To ensure that INC-4 was inclusive and equitable, Canada and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International hosted a ministerial session on April 21, and a high-level Partnerships Day on April 22, which was Earth Day under the theme, “Planet vs. Plastics”. Canada also hosted a Plastic Action Zone of side events for key partners and stakeholders to meet and showcase innovative action to end plastic pollution.
The fifth and final negotiating session (INC-5) will take place in Busan, Republic of Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024. Canada looks forward to working with all countries to reach a first-of-its kind global agreement on plastics by the end of the year.
Canada’s international action to fight plastic pollution
Canada is a proud inaugural member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC), a group of more than 60 countries representing every UN region with the goal to end plastic pollution by 2040 and develop an ambitious and effective global agreement.
As an international leader on this issue, Canada launched the Oceans Plastics Charter during our 2018 G7 Presidency and is implementing a comprehensive plan to reduce plastic waste and pollution and move towards a circular plastics economy.
Highlights
- Minister Guilbeault issues statement on high-level meeting as INC-4 begins
- The Government of Canada requires producers to take more responsibility for the plastic they put on the market
- Government of Canada invests to support Canadian innovators to find ways to reduce plastic pollution
- Canada helps chart roadmap toward an ambitious global deal to end plastic pollution
Related resources
Previous INC negotiating sessions
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