At its second session, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee requested the Secretariat to invite written submissions on (a) Elements not discussed at INC-2, such as principles and scope of the instrument (using Template A), and (b) Any potential areas for inter-sessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3 (using  Template B).

In response to this call, the Quaker United Nations Office made two contributions on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) to inform the work of the INC-3. Our first submission, which focuses on reuse, refill, and the midstream segment of the plastic lifecycle, outlines a vision for an international treaty that considers unique requirements for diverse sectors, notably focusing on circular approaches like reuse and refill methods. It emphasizes economically viable solutions that benefit everyone in the supply chain, especially tailored to the challenges of developing nations. The proposal suggests utilizing funds from mechanisms like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for plastics, underlining the potential these have in advancing sustainability. The interconnectedness of environmental responsibility and social fairness is highlighted, emphasizing tailored strategies for small businesses. The document also underscores the importance of consistent global standards and collaboration, pointing to the roles of entities like the World Trade Organization. Lastly, the submission combines insights from international trade law and environmental concerns to present forward-looking strategies, emphasizing fairness and inclusivity.

QUNO’s team at the recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations (SB58) in Bonn (June 5 – June 15) was the Representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC), Lindsey Fielder Cook, and HICC programme assistant Alana M Carlson. 

QUNO’s interactive side event was titled “Truthful engagement in real, effective and ethical climate action for an ambitious Global Stocktake,” and included panelists from the negotiation, research, activist, community organizer and legal experience. The event was led by QUNO and the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO), with co-hosts from Britain Yearly, Quaker Earthcare Witness, and the Friends World Committee for Consultation.  The side event can be watched here.

See the below word collage to review the reflections shared by audience members.

QUNO NY co-hosted an event alongside the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation to mark the fifth anniversary of the flagship report ‘Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict’ by the United Nations and World Bank Group. The anniversary provided opportunities for Member States, the UN and civil society to take stock and reflect on recommendations made in the report and how to apply these in an evolved geopolitical landscape. 

The SJES team was approached by the DPP (Dialogue on Plastic Pollution) Secretariat for feedback on their Zero Draft in preparation for the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) scheduled in Abu Dhabi from 26-29 February 2024. In our submission, the SJES team highlighted the significant role of subsidies in the plastic industry and underscored the broader social implications of plastic pollution, especially on marginalized communities. They recommended clearer waste management guidelines, enhanced transparency through better plastic labeling, and championed principles like the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) and extended producer responsibility (EPR). With this feedback, the team aspires to strengthen the WTO's approach against plastic pollution by integrating environmental and social concerns. You can find our submission attached below.  

Last November, States that took part in COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh agreed to pass a new funding arrangement for responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. Loss and damage (L&D) refers to the monetary and non-monetary losses and damages that people have experienced and will experience due to sudden and slow-onset events. Economic, or tangible, L&D includes the loss of property and livelihood, changes in labor and agricultural productivity, cost of medical treatments associated with climatic events, and so forth. Non-economic, or intangible, L&D includes but is not limited to the mental health impacts, loss of ecosystems, and loss of culture (places, artifacts, language, etc.) from climate change.

People who are most affected by and vulnerable to further L&D have contributed the least to the climate crisis. Therefore, is it morally right that those who are most responsible for the climate crisis should finance the new funding arrangement for L&D. Taking up the need to address L&D in an ethical manner, the Human Impacts of Climate Change programme published this month a new briefing paper on “Fair Sources of Finance for a New Loss and Damage Funding Arrangement.” The options offered in the paper are meant to present policy makers with feasible and fair sources of finance for funding the new L&D arrangement without taking money away from needed action into climate change mitigation and adaptation. Grounded in principles like polluter pays, historic responsibility, and needs based, the options center redressing fossil fuel harm, exploring existing financial instruments, and supporting a more just and equitable world. 

On 16 February 2023, Mr. Andres Naranjo, the Programme Associate for QUNO's Sustainable and Just Economic Systems (SJES), presented at the pre-plenary session of the WTO Dialogue on Plastic Pollution, offering insights on waste regulations and plastic pollution management based on the findings of QUNO's recently-released report, "Package-less and Reuse Systems Through Policy Intervention: rethinking packaging in international trade."

The presentation emphasized the need to shift from recycling-centric approaches to prioritizing higher-level strategies, including avoidance and reuse/refill systems. The report's analysis of thirty countries demonstrated that recycling and reuse measures were the least favored, while labeling emerged as the most significant measure in international trade. During the presentation, Mr. Naranjo advocated for policy incentives to accelerate the adoption of reuse systems in developing countries, as this could create local jobs and alleviate pressure on waste management systems. Furthermore, Mr. Naranjo stressed the importance of establishing clear definitions and working standards to facilitate international trade and assess the sustainability merits of various reuse practices and operations.

You can refer to the attached PowerPoint slides for Mr. Naranjo's presentation. 

QUNO UN representative Kavita Desai delivered an intervention at the multistakeholder consultations for the Summit of the Future convened by the Summit’s co-facilitators, the permanent missions of Germany and Namibia to the UN. Drawing on insights from the recently submitted Civil-Society UN Prevention Platform paper on the New Agenda for Peace, Kavita called for peace to be a focus, highlighting the need for the concrete and actionable steps to build peace to come out of the Summit.

Quakers support Indigenous peoples’ rights, based on our commitment to peace and justice. We recognise the historical and ongoing injustice faced by Indigenous peoples and the direct role historically played by Quakers in the genocide of Indigenous peoples. Today, Quaker support for Indigenous peoples in their struggles for justice has taken form at both the community, national and international level, including long-standing support to establish the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Over the years, QUNO has backed efforts to secure and strengthen the rights of Indigenous peoples, predominantly through supporting the work of the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC). In the context of the climate negotiations, QUNO’s Human Impacts of Climate Change programme advocates for human rights-based, urgent and ambitious climate action and raises up the voices of those most marginalized and vulnerable. We have been observers to the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform since its first meeting in 2018.

International environmental law is central to climate action. For example, the 2015 Paris Agreement, is a universal climate change agreement through which both developing and developed countries work together on climate mitigation and adaptation. This 2-sider offers an overview of some of the key agreements and sources of international environmental law that can benefit local and national climate action efforts.