Geneva, 7 February 2026 – The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, today elected Ambassador Julio Cordano, of Chile, as the next INC Chair during the third part of the fifth session (INC-5.3).
In accepting the position, Ambassador Cordano said: “Plastic pollution is a planetary problem that affects every country, community and individual. Therefore, a treaty is urgently needed to support concerted action and bring us together to address this shared responsibility. I am willing and determined to play a leading role in helping the Committee cross the finish line.”
Following the election of Ambassador Cordano as Chair, the Committee elected Mr Linroy Christian of Antigua and Barbuda as Vice-Chair. This session solely focused on organizational purposes to address the election of officers, with no substantive negotiations held during the resumed session.
The Committee also expressed its appreciation to current Vice-Chair, Ambassador Johanna Lissinger-Peitz of Sweden, for supporting proceedings over the past several months ahead of INC-5.3.
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat, said: “I congratulate Ambassador Cordano on his election and look forward to supporting the Committee under his leadership as it carries forward its mandate.”
The INC process was launched in March 2022 at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), where Member States adopted a historic resolution to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
This session, held at the Geneva International Convention Centre, follows INC-5.2 in August 2025 that was also held in Geneva, Switzerland. That meeting was preceded by five INC sessions: INC-1 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in November 2022; INC-2 in Paris, France, in June 2023; INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2023; INC-4 in Ottawa, Canada, in April 2024; and INC-5.1 in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November–December 2024.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to convene an intergovernmental negotiating committee, to begin its work during the second half of 2022, with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024. The INC is tasked with developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, which could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic.
More information is available here. For media enquiries, please contact the INC media team.
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information please contact:
News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme
