The Scientists’ Coalition engages with treaty negotiators via online and in-person meetings and events, where we share and explain the scientific evidence relating to all aspects of the treaty negotiations. We also develop fact sheets, policy briefs, and presentations to facilitate policymakers’ access to robust, independent, and state-of-the-art scientific evidence. The Coalition is organised around working groups composed of independent scientists and technical experts from a broad range of scientific disciplines and areas of expertise. It is governed by a democratically elected steering committee, led by a team of coordinators, and supported by a secretariat.
The Scientists’ Coalition engages with the treaty negotiation process in three ways. Member state delegations are invited to contact us with requests for engagement.
Scientists from the Coalition participate in events such as INC negotiating sessions and other relevant INC meetings, online and in-person meetings, webinars, and workshops to provide technical and scientific expertise related to plastic pollution. This includes topics across the full life cycle of plastics from upstream reduction and product design to downstream removal of plastics from the environment.
The Coalition seeks to share its independent expertise and knowledge with member state delegations across the policymaking process. We offer bilateral meetings, scientific presentations, and more.
Expert working groups within the Coalition develop accessible, science-based resources such as fact sheets, policy briefs, and webinars on scientific topics relevant to plastic pollution.
Coalition members adhere to robust conflict of interest and transparency policies.
The interaction between the working groups and external stakeholders is done transparently. The secretariat keeps records of Coalition interactions with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) members, other Member States, and external organizations. The Coalition prioritizes maintaining its science-based independence as a knowledge broker within the space and does not engage in advocacy.
There are many ways for Coalition members to participate. An important role of members is participating in Working Groups that are relevant to their expertise, contributing to the many resources we produce. Contact us for more information. Not a member yet and want to join? Learn more about membership.
The interaction between the working groups and external stakeholders is done transparently. The secretariat keeps records of Coalition interactions with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) members, other Member States, and external organizations. The Coalition prioritizes maintaining its science-based independence as a knowledge broker within the space and does not engage in advocacy.
Coalition members collaborate within various thematic working groups (WGs) to consolidate knowledge and create accessible science-based resources that support stakeholders and negotiators. Upon requests from governments and international organizations, a WG can also provide specific feedback and expert insights on specific matters.
WGs are inclusive and seek to ensure global representation and balance across age, gender and geographic location. The Secretariat and Steering Committee actively support group members and co-leads to broaden membership.
WGs are coordinated by co-leads elected by the working group members. The co-leads must be core members of the Coalition, and their role is to coordinate the work within the group and ensure progress and alignment with other WGs. The WGs themselves are free to determine their topics of investigation and types of outputs.
Coalition members collaborate within various thematic working groups (WGs) to consolidate knowledge and create accessible science-based resources that support negotiators. Our working groups also provide specific feedback and expert insights on request from negotiators.
WGs are inclusive and seek to ensure global representation and balance across age, gender, geographic location, ethnicity, and physical ability. Our WGs encourage diverse expert contributions from across the natural and social sciences.
WG co-leads are elected by the working group members. Their role is to coordinate the work within the group and ensure progress and alignment with other WGs.
Learn more about the Coalition’s types of membership.
Membership in a working group is voluntary, and two preconditions apply for membership:
Membership in a working group is voluntary, and two preconditions apply for membership:
Winnie Courtene-Jones, Bangor University
Sabine Rech, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center (MARE), Madeira & Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile
Xavier Cousin, French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE)
Justin Boucher, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Rocio Rodríguez, KU Leuven
Noreen O’Meara, University College Cork
Natalia Grilli, University of Tasmania
Jane Muncke, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Megan Deeney, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg
Babet de Groot, University of Wollongong
Peter Stoett, Ontario Tech University
Richard Thompson, University of Plymouth
Winnie Courtene-Jones, Bangor University
Florin-Constantin Mihai, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi
Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg
Maya Weeks, University of California in Davis
Richard Thompson, University of Plymouth
Kristian Syberg, Roskilde University
Tara Olsen, University of Copenhagen
Patrick O’Hare, University of St Andrews
Noreen O’Meara, University College Cork
Trisia Farrelly, Cawthron Institute
Richard Thompson, University of Plymouth
| 2026 Working group | Co-leads | |
| Chemicals, Products, and Design | Martin Wagner, Norwegian University of Science and Technology | |
| Communications | Justin Boucher, Food Packaging Forum Foundation | |
| Finance | Noreen O’Meara, AFFILIATION? | |
| Human Health | Jane Muncke, Food Packaging Forum Foundation | |
| Human Rights | Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg TO BE ELECTED | |
| Monitoring | Richard Thompson, University of PlymouthFlorin-Constantin Mihai, AFFILIATION? | |
| Science Policy Interface |
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In addition to the above working groups, Scientists’ Coalition members have organized in ad-hoc working groups in response to the ongoing negotiations, producing scientific outputs to inform the process on topics including:
