On 24 March 2026, Doris Knoblauch delivered a lecture on "Plastics and the Environment" as part of a postgraduate course. The session brought together 21 professionals from ministries, public authorities, municipalities, NGOs and industry, representing low-income countries and emerging economies, and offered a valuable platform for exchange and discussion.

The lecture explored strategies for reducing plastic pollution, combining a global perspective on responsibilities and challenges with a closer look at the textile sector. Particular attention was given to the current state of the international plastics treaty negotiations. Following the lack of agreement at the INC-5.2 meeting in Geneva in August 2025, the process remains at a critical juncture. At the same time, many countries and stakeholders continue to actively push the negotiations forward in order to achieve an ambitious agreement to end plastic pollution.

The presentation formed part of the 49th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUKN International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management, organised by the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at the Technical University of Dresden. As in previous years, the course participants visited Ecologic Institute during their study trip to Berlin.