OBSERVERS' SELF-ORGANISED
WORKING GROUPS PROPOSAL for informals

Objective of this draft proposal - still in the conceptual stage awaiting feedback and wider consultation from Observers:

To create an inclusive organisational structure for Observers to maximise their input into the Global Plastics Treaty text only during Informal sessions, by self-organising into topic-based Working Groups to review and provide suggestions on draft text.

Additionally, in order to give Observers representational access to limited seats at Informal session, a group of (up to 21) elected representatives could potentially allow Observers into the room only during Informals, which doesn't exist at the moment. Elected focal points could share information as the direct contact from their Working Group to heads of delegations and the Secretariat at Informals. They would also have direct knowledge of material covered during closed-door Informals to immediately brief their respective groups in the aftermath of Informal sessions.

Last updated: 29-08-26

OBSERVERS TO THE GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

Introduction to proposal for self-organisation

July 7th 2026

Observers to the UNEP-led negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty are undeniably the experts in the room. Observers come from various countries and backgrounds such as scientific researchers studying human health implications, independent voices warning the public about the unfathomable scale of plastic pollution, number crunchers evidencing staggering negative externalities, businesses impacted by lack of regulation, indigenous and underprivileged communities seeking relief from the flood of plastic pollution, experts warning about the impact of plastics on our oceans and life within it, waste pickers who literally handle the plastic problem every day and the youth who understand they will soon inherit this crisis.

In light of this urgency for an effective plastics treaty to be concluded, INC Chair Julio Cordano has invited Observers to self-organise into a structure that best incorporates our collective expertise during the treaty negotiation process. The proposed framework below outlines how Observers could self-organise into SEVEN distinct Working Groups to inform, advise, propose suggested text language, review impact of text language and communicate this important multi-stakeholder process to the world. In addition, many Member States experience a turnover of new delegates who arrive at negotiations without a thorough understanding of the complex issues involved under the umbrella of this treaty, and could greatly benefit from capacity-building and advice from this large body of global experts.

If Observers can self-organise into useful advisory bodies, while harnessing our unique knowledge, skills and negotiating strengths in a meaningful way, we can work more effectively as an united front. We have been told Observers would be allowed to attend Informals, if we can successfully self-organise. These Working Groups might even gain an official mandate to inform and advise members of the Secretariat and Member State delegations where appropriate, as outlined below in the proposed organisational chart. But, this influence will only be possible if Observers assemble together in a structured way that gains approval from the Chair.

We are now reaching out to other Observers who would like to help design and support this self-organisation process, while placing our unique skills into the roles where we can be most impactful. The alternative is that we continue to remain fragmented and kept 'out of the room', while trying to get our individual voices heard above the others.

Our many voices and perspectives from the Observer community are needed at this critical junction, yet Observers have no UN mandate allowing us to be included in Informal session. However, if Observers can self-organise into an unprecedented format that maximises OUR incredible wealth of expertise by working together, the Plastics Treaty will have a much greater chance of being an ambitious one.

IN BRIEF:

By dividing into SEVEN working groups, this framework would help unify Observer messaging around specific areas of the treaty text: Legal, Financial, Science, Solutions, Frontline voices, Legacy systems and Communications platform. This dynamic system would allow Observers to work together to highlight their most critical issues within the draft text and then funnel their expertise through the voices of elected representatives , known as 'focal points'.

These 21 focal points would (potentially) have access to Informal discussions, and become a more efficient source of information feedback to Observers than in the current system. Their role would be to provide a two-way information flow between Working Groups and the Secretariat/Member States, as spokespeople that are chosen for two year terms by majority vote of their respective Working Groups. Their election would be based solely on their personal credentials, and not professional affiliations or positions held within independent Observer groups. In their capacity as focal points, they would be expected to represent the majority views of their Working Group, and not their own.

ONE OBSERVER PLATFORM

SEVEN (PROPOSED) 'OBSERVER WORKING GROUPS' TO THE INC PROCESS

Observers would be requested to self-organise into ONE specific working group, where they have the most expertise and their skills would be of greatest use to the Observer input process. To ensure fairness within each working group there would be a limit of FIVE participants from each UNEP-accredited organisation, similar to the existing pass system, or evidence of previous INC participation.

The main function of these Working Groups is to channel their extensive expertise into draft text suggestions to the Chair, while potentially providing access to technical information to Member States delegations. Observers would in turn have elected representatives allowed to participate in closed-door Informals in the form of focal points (if approved by the Chair), who would report back to their Working Groups on the issues relevant to those areas of expertise. Textual suggestions and advice from these Working Groups would then funnel through the elected focal points into the Legal Group, to ensure maximum coherency coming out from the diverse Observer community. Focal points would also have the ability to interface with focal points from other Working Groups, when expertise and access to information lies outside of their respective group.

The focal points will be elected for a fixed term, and they will only have roles during the Informals - this would not compete with or duplicate any role of any organisation or group efforts at the INC process level. Focal points should ideally have a term for two years by majority vote within their Working Groups, though specific groups could choose to vote on a term that better suits their function by amending their Terms of Reference. Each Working Group would adhere to a common Terms of Reference, which outlines the internal governance structure of their group and focal point(s); such as term limits, election process, Code of Conduct. These governance documents would need to be created once this proposal is officially supported by the Chair - with a plan to hand this proposal to him by August 10th, 2026.

HOW THEY WOULD WORK: Focal points would be limited to THREE positions per Working Group; 1) Chair elected as the main spokesperson for the Working Group, 2) Vice-Chair (elected) who would handle administration of the group, and provide backup for the Chair during Informals and 3) Nominated Expert (no fixed term) that would be chosen to present at specific Informals, when their specialised expertise would be useful to represent their Working Group at greater depth. They would all ideally have access to closed-door Informals, alongside Member States and the Secretariat, if approved by the Chair. During formal negotiations (INCs) these focal points could continue to actively convey text suggestions from the Working Groups they represent. As the sole point of communication for their respective Working Group, focal points would therefore be held accountable to represent their group over any personal opinion or professional affiliation.

Note: Working Groups could communicate with any other group through their focal point leads (not just through Legal, as shown below for visual simplicity)

OBSERVERS

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Working Group to problem-solve and map out solutions that can be folded into the treaty text, while maintaining focus on best possible future of a world without plastic pollution.

FOCAL POINTS

OBSERVERS

FRONTLINE VOICES

(Giving a voice to those impacted the most by plastic pollution)

These are the communities and individual groups that have land, livelihoods , health and future deeply impacted by the plastic pollution crisis

FOCAL POINTS

OBSERVERS

SCIENCE

Working Group of Science experts in areas relating to health & environmental impacts, chemicals of concern, materials development and tools to mitigate impact of plastic pollution

FOCAL POINTS

OBSERVERS

LEGAL

Existing group that could merge text recommendations from other Working Groups to help draft suggested text language for the Secretariat and inform/answer questions about text language for Member States, as required.

Role: Synthesize advice and proposals from other Advisory Bodies (Science, Technical, Financial, Legal, Marginalised, Legacy and Communications) to design solutions and potential policies based on the advice from experts in relevant groups. Advice and suggestions funneled into representative ‘focal point’ for relaying to the Chair.

FOCAL POINTS

OBSERVERS

COMMUNICATIONS

Virtual platform for uploading all communications between Working Groups & Secretariat. Responsible for creating consistent messaging and interfacing with all media outlets. GOAL: to explain the work of the Plastics Treaty and Observers' perspectives. Lay groundwork for educating countries to help support rapid treaty ratification

FOCAL POINTS

OBSERVERS

LEGACY

Working Group for Business & Industry to map innovative ways to transition to a future world without plastic pollution, while considering the practical and economic impacts to the world during the transition phase.

OBSERVERS

FINANCIAL

(Determine how text proposal will be funded)

Expert panel of advisers to help with complexities ranging from: subsidies, tariffs, plastic taxes, plastic credits, EPR schemes, transitioning industries, funding legacy cleanup & financial mechanisms to ensure policies are met with action.

FOCAL POINTS

21 FOCAL POINTS

THREE elected representatives from the SEVEN Working Groups.

Focal points function to relay information and communicate suggested draft text from the Observer community

UNEP

SECRETARIAT

Observers offer alternative 'suggested text' to the INC Chair

UNEP's Oberserver Liaison works directly with the FOCAL POINTS (grey arrow)

Output to MS DELEGATIONS

FAQs

How official is this proposal?
This a draft outline for a vision of how Observers could effectively self-organise, put together primarily by one organisation with limited input from other Observer perspectives. It was put here on the web to request feedback and suggestions from the wider Observer community, and to work out the nuances of how self-organisation could potentially work. It does NOT have a clear governance structure to define roles and responsibilities at this very early stage. Those important decisions would need to come from consultation with the wider Observer community, IF the Chair were to support it by allowing Observers access to informal sessions through focal point representatives.

How might this change our in-person participation at future INCs?
It wouldn't change any of the way Observers work, connect, give interventions and organise side events at INCs. This structure is solely to organise outside of formal treaty negotiations, with the bulk of the work taking place virtually in Working Groups. The elected focal points would only represent their Working Group during Informals, and when required for specific intersessional work. At formal negotiations, they would ideally go back to representing their own organisation or coalition.

How would our Observer group be assured equal representation?
This platform has been designed to allow Observers to self-organise by their areas of expertise only to; 1) focus on suggested draft text and 2) nominate representative spokespeople for Observers to have limited presence at Informals. There would not be specific Observer groups with flags, but elected focal points conveying the opinions and expertise of their Working Group that elected them. By working together in a new organisational structure, we have a greater chance to 'be in the room' during these important Informal negotiations, though admittedly in vastly more limited numbers.

What if some Observers don't want to take part?
As this model is designed as a self-selection process for Observers, there is no mandatory requirement for any Observer to join. However, by participating in the Working Groups to find common language, share ideas and draft suggested text, Observers might have more ability to contribute to an ambitious Plastics Treaty than they otherwise would by remaining outside of this platform.

Would Major Groups have less proportional representation?
No, in fact since participation in Working Groups is based on evidence of past participation at INCs (UNEP-accreditation or other), this allows individual organisations and members of Major Groups into any of the numerous Working Groups that could best harness their unique expertise and perspective.

How would I be permitted to join a Working Group if I'm not working for a UNEP-accredited organisation?
As we are basing the joining criteria on the current INC system, the most obvious way would be to ask the organisation where you obtained previous passes for INCs if you could join under one of their FIVE. If that isn't possible, you could send evidence of previous participation at INCs to the Working Group contact person, which would be accepted on a case by case basis.

This Observer platform proposal has been created by stakeholders experienced in the Plastics Treaty process including by Women and Youth, groups who have historically struggled to have their voices heard. The wider Observer community should have ownership for this plan to work successfully, if approved. It belongs to no ONE Observer group, because it belongs to ALL Observers.

-Diahann Hughes Hawkins, August 4th, 2026

Acknowledgments:

We would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their official support and early input into the development of this proposal.

A Plastic Planet + PlasticFree Babies

Africa Hub to End Plastic Pollution (AHEP)

Dr Alexandra Harrington

Captain Planet Foundation (CPF)

Child Rights International Network (CRIN)

Common Seas

Global Aide for Africa (GAA)

Green Speaking

Hidden Plastic