Beyond Promises: Delivering on Plastics Commitments, Leadership from the Middle-Out
Date: November 26, 2024
Time: 12:00-15:00
Location: The Westin Josun Busan
67 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae, Busan, South Korea
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REGISTER FOR THE SIDE EVENT HERE
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Current approaches to environmental leadership often assume that direction and progress come primarily from state actors. However, when political shifts or policy changes challenge that assumption, it becomes essential to look toward leadership from non-state actors. Civil society, private sector entities, academic institutions, and local governments are uniquely positioned to catalyze policy and practical solutions from a middle-out approach—a method that leverages both grassroots and high-level initiatives to drive systemic change.
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Despite the positive momentum generated by UNEA-5, recent political developments have introduced uncertainty regarding the future of the plastics treaty and its intended timeline. This creates a need for resilient and adaptive leadership that can maintain progress and drive innovation, even in the face of political fluctuations. Non-state actors can become key drivers of policy, research, community engagement, and the implementation of plastics commitments.
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Recent political developments have created uncertainty around the future of the plastics treaty and its proposed timeline, making leadership from sub-national actors—such as civil society, private corporations, financial institutions, and academic institutions—more crucial than ever. This event will examine how these actors can continue to drive policy and implementation efforts, sustaining progress toward an ambitious instrument regardless of shifts in government priorities.
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Objectives
This event aims to facilitate a platform for interactive discourse between presenters and participants to identify the critical areas where non-state actors can complement state actions and drive initiatives for ambitious plastic policy. With private corporations, financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, academia, and member states, we open the floor to diverse perspectives that encourage partnerships and share best practices and innovations. Ultimately, we aim to embolden non-state actors in leadership roles that support an ambitious plastics treaty.
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Specifically, the side event will:
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Emphasize the critical role of non-state actors in advancing the plastics treaty amid political shifts
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Create a platform for diverse stakeholders to share best practices and build cross-sectoral partnerships for effective plastics policy
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Explore how middle-out leadership can drive policy and implementation alongside national efforts ​​​​​​​​
Meet Confirmed Speakers
Maria Ivanova
Maria Ivanova is the Director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, focusing on international environmental institutions, environmental sustainability, and the science-policy interface. As Director, Professor Ivanova is committed to addressing global challenges, particularly in climate action and plastic pollution. Her leadership emphasizes international collaboration, community engagement, and actionable policy, supporting a vision for a resilient and sustainable world. In June 2022, Professor Ivanova was named one of 66 inaugural Foundation Fellows of the International Science Council, the highest honor awarded by the Council in recognition of remarkable contributions to the role of science in promoting the global public good.
Juliet Kabera
Juliet Kabera is the Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, a position to which she was appointed in May 2020. Prior to her appointment, she held the position of Director General of Environment and Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment. Juliet began her career as an Environment Management Officer, at a time when Rwanda was developing much of its forward-looking environmental institutions and policies and enforcement of different laws such as the 2008 law banning plastic bags in Rwanda and the 2019 law banning single-use plastics. Juliet served as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol in the year 2019/2020.
Rolph Payet
Rolph Payet has been the Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions since 6 October 2014. He was the former Minister for the Environment and Energy in the Seychelles. In addition to having been the Seychelles’ Chief Negotiator for the Basel Convention, the Montreal Protocol, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Rolph also established important multi-stakeholder platforms such as the Global Island Partnership and co-chaired the International Coral Reef Initiative. He was also the Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third and Fourth Assessments. In 2007, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, in recognition of his contributions to marine research. In 2009, he also established the first university in the Seychelles and is its present ProChancellor.
Louise Kim
Aron Stubbims
Aron Stubbins grew up in Wales and earned his PhD in Marine Biogeochemistry from Newcastle University in England. After completing his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He then became a professor at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography at the University of Georgia in Savannah, GA. In 2018, he moved to Northeastern University. His research focuses on the natural carbon cycle, how human activities are impacting it, and the role of plastics in the environment. He views plastics as a novel component of the carbon cycle and as potential pollutants.
Helen Finlay
As Director of Policy, Helen leads the global policy team at CDP. Over the past 15 years, she has worked to promote transparency and track environmental impact in the corporate and sustainable finance landscape, shaping high quality disclosure policies and greening supply chains. Helen has multi-stakeholder experience, having worked with governments, businesses, the financial sector and civil society, with particular focus on multilateral governance within the UNFCCC and CBD policy.
Agenda
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​12:00 - 12:30 Registration & Lunch
12:30 - 12:40 Welcome Remarks – Dr. Maria Ivanova of Northeastern University
12:40 - 12:50 Setting the Scene – Helen Finlay of CDP
12:50 – 13:30 Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Rolph Payet, Juliet Kabera, Louise Kim, and Dr. Aron Stubbins​
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Key Discussion Points:
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The role of non-state actors in advancing the plastics treaty
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Building collaborative platforms and fostering relationships to further plastics policy
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Middle-out leadership as a catalyst for policy and implementation
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13:30 – 14:15 Table Discussion & Q/A
14:15 – 14:30 ‘Small States Beyond Plastics’ Short Film Screening introduced by the Director, Kylee Hendrie
14:30 – 15:00 Informal Discussion Period
Meet Our Partners
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The Northeastern School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs is committed to preparing future leaders capable of addressing society's most pressing challenges. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the school equips students with the expertise needed to tackle issues such as housing, energy, social equity, and sustainability. Through a blend of theory and real-world application, graduates are positioned to drive impactful change across sectors, benefiting stakeholders in government, business, and the nonprofit world at local, national, and international levels.
The Global Environmental Governance (GEG) Project, housed at Northeastern University’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, is a collaborative initiative uniting policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to rethink global environmental governance for a sustainable future. Founded in 1997 by Professor Maria Ivanova and Professor Daniel Esty, the project addresses real-world policy challenges across governance, development, and organizational sustainability. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and regular engagement with global scholars and policymakers, GEG Project fosters critical discussions on environmental policy, advocacy, and justice.
CDP is a global non-profit organization that runs the leading environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. It provides the most comprehensive dataset on corporate and city actions to address climate change, deforestation, and water security. By promoting transparency and accountability, CDP enables investors and stakeholders to make informed decisions that drive sustainable economic practices. With an expanding focus on biodiversity, plastics, and oceans, CDP addresses the interconnected environmental challenges facing the planet.