In March 2022, during the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), 175 nations agreed to negotiate an international instrument to end plastic pollution. The decision came in the form of resolution 5/14 to negotiate a legally-binding treaty “on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment… based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic.” An Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was set up with the mandate for drafting the instrument by the end of 2024 across…