Ottawa, Canada

Tamdeen Youth Foundation, represented by its Founder, Mr. Hussein Al Suhaily, and its Director of Taiz Office, Dr. Ibrahim Al Musallami, is participating in the activities of the fourth session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), currently held in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. This session is historic, as it seeks to draft the first legally binding global treaty to reduce plastic pollution.

Crucial Negotiations Amid Differing Positions

At the session, which brings together negotiators from 176 countries and more than 4,000 observers representing various aspects of society, tension, disagreement and divergence of views prevail among participating countries, as well as talks on what the Treaty should include, where a group of fossil-fuel-dependent countries oppose limiting production or banning certain chemicals.

Adressing Plastic Waste in Developing Countries

Many delegations highlight the problem of dumping hazardous plastic waste in developing countries and call for strict transparency measures to avoid it. They also stress the need to support these countries' capacity to properly address plastic waste.

Gobal Treaty Is a Hope for a Better Future

Al Suhaily explained that there is no corner of the world free from the threat of such pollution. 

"If governments can agree on a legally binding treaty that addresses not only how to dispose of plastics, but also how much plastics is produced and how it is used. This could become the most important treaty to address global greenhouse gas emissions since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Frightening Figures on Plastic Pollution

Experts estimate that 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced since 1950s, and that 7 billion tons have become waste. This waste pollutes the environment and threatens human health.

Historic Opportunity for Radical Change

The objective at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is to present a draft text for the global instrument that can be finalized in Busan, Korea, next December. The world is thus a once-in-a-generation opportunity to radically change humanity's relationship with plastic.