U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment José Fernández is preparing to travel to Canada to lead the U.S. delegation at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee from April 23 to 29 to enhance cooperation and exchange ideas on tackling plastic pollution.

A statement on the U.S. State Department's website on Friday noted that the committee brings together representatives from approximately 180 countries to make progress towards a strong and comprehensive global agreement on plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution is a global problem that affects the environment, biodiversity, health, food security, and economies, and the United States is working with other countries to develop a global agreement that sets the world on a path to ending plastic pollution.

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee represents a critical opportunity to achieve concrete progress towards the goal set by the United Nations Environment Assembly, which is to reach a final text of the agreement by the end of 2024,