Olga Skaredina Co-Organizes Youth Assembly at Plastics Negotiations in Busan, South Korea

PhD student Olga Skaredina co-organized the Nov 24th Youth and Stakeholder Assembly on Plastic Pollution in Busan, Republic of Korea, ahead of the official start of the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) on Plastic Pollution. The event brought together diverse voices to set the stage for intergenerational and multi-stakeholder dialogue on a global plastics treaty.

Olga moderated the high-level opening plenary with distinguished guests that included Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Later, Olga joined the panel on the Science-Policy-People Interface, where she emphasized the importance of including a diverse range of stakeholders in knowledge exchange, translation, and communication—especially in the context of implementing the treaty once adopted.

In preparation for the Assembly, Olga, with fellow PhD student Clara Copp-LaRocque, master’s student Alexandra Carlotto, and other youth representatives, had a chance to have a meeting with Senator Merkley to discuss the leadership role of states in advancing ambitious plastic policies and the role of non-state actors in driving progress toward an effective and inclusive treaty.