After three months of consultations, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with developing a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, elected Julio Cordano (Chile) to serve as its new Chair. A new Vice Chair and the Rapporteur were elected by acclamation.

The INC held a one-day resumed session (INC-5.3) to address organizational and administrative matters. No substantive negotiations took place.

At INC-5.3, delegates were tasked with selecting a Chair from three candidates – Ndiaye Cheikh Sylla (Senegal), Nazia Zaib Ali (Pakistan), and Julio Cordano (Chile). Each of the candidates briefly shared their vision for the process.

According to Earth Negotiations Bulleting (ENB) coverage of the meeting, Cordano stressed “the importance of finding common ground to enable countries to move forward together and achieve a meaningful agreement.” Zaib highlighted “transparency and neutrality as foundations for compromise and progress in negotiations.” Sylla “cited his knowledge of the process and its challenges and emphasized that leadership based on transparency, integrity, and dedication will bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.”

Election of the Chair by acclamation proved impossible. Following the plenary’s suspension, the INC held two rounds of voting by secret ballot, which resulted in Cordano’s election.

The INC then elected by acclamation Linroy Christian (Antigua and Barbuda) as a Vice Chair, and designated Irma Gurguliani (Georgia) as Rapporteur.

“The INC began deliberations in the second half of 2022 and had aimed to complete its work by the end of 2024,” ENB writes. “[D]elegates were unable to reach agreement on the text of a new treaty during INC-5, held in late 2024, or the subsequent resumed session, INC-5.2, held in August 2025.” Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso (Ecuador) stepped down as INC Chair in October 2025, citing personal and professional reasons. 

INC-5.3 convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on 7 February 2026. Held pursuant to the resolution adopted by the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), which requests the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director to convene an INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the meeting drew over 600 participants from governments and observer organizations. [ENB Coverage of INC-5.3]