NAIROBI, Kenya, June 30 (ANI) — India has reaffirmed its commitment to working constructively toward a balanced and effective global agreement on plastic pollution while emphasizing the need to safeguard the right to development.
According to an official post by the Indian mission in Kenya, India’s delegation to the Informal Heads of Delegation (HODs) meeting in Nairobi was led by Adarsh Swaika, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat.
The meeting was held ahead of the upcoming session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.4), which is tasked with developing an international legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution.
During the meeting, Swaika outlined several key principles on behalf of the Indian delegation to help achieve a balanced outcome in the negotiations.
India stressed that decisions should be reached through consensus to ensure collective ownership among member states and that the negotiating process should remain fully member-driven.
Regarding the scope of the proposed treaty, India said it should focus exclusively on plastic pollution in accordance with United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14.
The delegation also emphasized avoiding regulatory overlap with other international frameworks, particularly those administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Addressing development concerns, India strongly argued against capping or regulating primary polymer production, stating that such measures could undermine the right to development.
India further said implementation of the agreement should be country-driven, reflect national circumstances, and be guided by the Rio Principles, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Highlighting the challenges faced by developing countries, the delegation emphasized the importance of providing adequate means of implementation, including the establishment of a dedicated multilateral fund.
Swaika concluded by calling for a negotiation process that is fair, transparent, inclusive, and fully reflective of the diverse national circumstances and capabilities of participating countries.
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