CARICOM REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE – Towards an effective, equitable and sustainable treaty on plastic pollution
The Caricom regional roundtable meeting was organized and sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Norwegian Academy of International Law (NAIL). This forum of highly qualified technicians met and deliberated in a two-days session from 18th to 19th January in Antigua.
The welcome and opening speech were delivered by Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment. In his remarks the Minister reminded the participants to be adamant, clear and precise about what needs required for the region. Additionally, he impressed upon them to be concise on ways forward, the approach/strategies and hopeful tangible outcomes/solutions in regards to PLASTIC POLLUTION and the associated problems such as environmental and detrimental/fatal health issues.
Finally, Minister Joseph advised the participants to be steadfast and assertive as the region prepares to participate in the upcoming Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee meetings (INC). The next meeting, INC4 is scheduled to be held in Ottawa, Canada during April 2024.
Participants attended included:
NAME AFFILIATION
Anama Solofa Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Samoa
Anthony Mai Department of the Environment, Belize
Daniela Garcia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador
Jonopia Fernander Department of Environmental Planning & Protection, Bahamas
Kareem Sabir CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana
Kemraj Parsram Environmental Protection Department, Guyana
Marise Warner International Law Consultant, Trinidad & Tobago
Philip Pile Environmental Protection Department, Barbados
Safiya Sawney Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment Renewable Energy, Grenada
Taylor Clayton Cartagena Convention Secretariat & Caribbean Environment Program – UNEP, Jamaica
Tushara Maharaj Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad & Tobago
Asha Challenger Permanent Mission of Antigua & Barbuda to the UN, New York
Jasiel Murphy Ministry of Health, Environment and Climate Change, Antigua
Indira James-Henry Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Antigua
Linroy Christian Department of Analytical Services, Antigua
Kiara Ireland Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Antigua
Maria Alejandra Gonzalez World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Nadia Balducci World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Torbjorn Graff Hugo Norwegian Academy of International Law (NAIL)
Topics that were presented and discussed included:
· Nuts and bolts of treaty negotiations
· The present status after INC 3 on plastic pollution treaty development
· INC 4 & 5
· Revised Zero Draft
· Ensuring effective treaty-implementation
· Risk and opportunities ahead
· Next steps – the role of the Caribbean countries
· CARICOM INC focal points internal coordination meeting
The CARICOM member states recognized the need for improved cooperation and coordination ahead of the next meeting of the INC and discussed modalities for the development of common positions. The meeting was seen as a timely venture and provided an opportunity for member states to advance the positions of the Caribbean region in the context of the overall negotiations towards the establishment of a new Plastics Treaty.