Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment John Thompson will lead the United States delegation at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) on plastic pollution. This event is scheduled to take place in Busan, Republic of Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024.
Thompson will be accompanied by representatives from the State Department and other U.S. government agencies. The INC-5 meeting will bring together representatives from approximately 175 countries with the aim of finalizing a new international legally binding instrument addressing plastic pollution.
"Plastic pollution is a global problem that affects our environment, biodiversity, health, food security, and economies," said Thompson. He emphasized the commitment of the U.S. delegation to secure an effective agreement at INC-5 that includes "meaningful and feasible universal obligations throughout the plastics lifecycle, including production, consumption, and waste."
The U.S. seeks an instrument that allows broad participation while being ambitious enough to achieve significant outcomes.
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