Northeastern Delegation Co-Hosts Side Event “Beyond Promises: Delivering on Plastics Commitments, Leadership from the Middle-Out”

Members of Northeastern’s Policy School continued to spotlight the vital role of sub-national actors in advancing international environmental policy. During INC-5, the team of delegates, led by Policy School Director Maria Ivanova co-hosted a side event “Beyond Promises: Delivering on Plastics Commitments, Leadership from the Middle-Out” in collaboration with CDP, a non-profit focused on corporate environmental disclosures. The event brought together voices from member state delegations, UN secretariats, academia, financial institutions, and the private sector to discuss how non-state actors can drive transformative change in plastics policy.

Discussions emphasized the role of academia in bridging the gap between research and policy, highlighting how academic institutions act as catalysts for institutional change. Key contributions included remarks on corporate transparency in plastic use, the importance of robust data, and the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration. Conversations further stressed the importance of science-driven policy, fostering partnerships, and mobilizing financial flows to empower developing nations.

left to right: Wondwossen Sintayehu, Alexandra Carlotto, Marcello Fischer, Clara Copp-LaRocque, Olga Skredina, Maria Ivanova, Helen Finlay, Shirley Chen, Kylee Hendrie, Nicole Vandale, Aron Stubbins, Peter Katanisa