Hopes of global plastic pollution treaty fade as negotiators call for more time
Efforts to seal a global treaty to curb plastic pollution faltered on the last day of scheduled talks in South Korea's Busan on Sunday as over 100 countries pushed to cap production while a handful of oil-producing countries sought to focus only on plastic waste.
Issued on: 01/12/2024
She delivered a statement on behalf of dozens of countries, demanding a treaty that would require targets to reduce production and phase out chemicals of concern.
"A treaty that lacks these elements and only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," she said, inviting supporting delegations to stand up to extensive applause from the plenary room.
'Huge gap'
Iran however warned it remained unhappy with proposals on those issues and others, warning of the "huge gap" between parties.
"We need to be assured that when (we) come together again, we will be allowed to add, introduce our own new languages, and to put into brackets any part or paragraph," its delegate said.
That raised the prospect that any new talks could follow the pattern seen in Busan, where repeated attempts by the chair to synthesise and streamline text encountered resistance.
Earlier, delegations seeking an ambitious treaty warned that a handful of countries were steadfastly blocking progress.
A French minister accused the like-minded group of "continuing obstruction," while Fiji's Sivendra Michael called out a "very minority group" for "blocking the process."
While countries have declined to directly name those preventing a deal, public statements and submissions have shown Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have sought to block production cuts and other ambitious goals.
None of the delegations have responded to repeated AFP requests for comment.
Efforts to seal a global treaty to curb plastic pollution faltered on the last day of scheduled talks in South Korea's Busan on Sunday as over 100 countries pushed to cap production while a handful of oil-producing countries sought to focus only on plastic waste.
Issued on: 01/12/2024
By: NEWS WIRES
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and more than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled. © Sonny Tumbelaka, AFP file photo
Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution and need more time to continue discussions, the diplomat chairing the talks said Sunday.
Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in the world's first accord on the issue after two years of discussions.
But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between "high-ambition" countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and "like-minded", mostly oil-producing nations who want to focus on waste.
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and more than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled.
A draft text released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays included a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement.
When an open plenary session finally convened late Sunday night, chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said progress had been made.
Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution and need more time to continue discussions, the diplomat chairing the talks said Sunday.
Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in the world's first accord on the issue after two years of discussions.
But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between "high-ambition" countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and "like-minded", mostly oil-producing nations who want to focus on waste.
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and more than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled.
A draft text released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays included a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement.
When an open plenary session finally convened late Sunday night, chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said progress had been made.
INC-5 Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso says negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution and need more time. © Anthony Wallace, AFP
But he said "we must also recognise that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement."
"These unresolved issues remain challenging and additional time will be needed to address them effectively," he said.
"There is a general agreement to resume the current session at a later date to conclude our negotiations."
Several nations took to the floor to support the call for more time – but their agreement ended there.
Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera spoke of "strong concerns about ongoing calls by a small group of countries to remove binding provisions from the text that are indispensable for the treaty to be effective."
But he said "we must also recognise that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement."
"These unresolved issues remain challenging and additional time will be needed to address them effectively," he said.
"There is a general agreement to resume the current session at a later date to conclude our negotiations."
Several nations took to the floor to support the call for more time – but their agreement ended there.
Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera spoke of "strong concerns about ongoing calls by a small group of countries to remove binding provisions from the text that are indispensable for the treaty to be effective."
01:48China plastic © france 24
She delivered a statement on behalf of dozens of countries, demanding a treaty that would require targets to reduce production and phase out chemicals of concern.
"A treaty that lacks these elements and only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," she said, inviting supporting delegations to stand up to extensive applause from the plenary room.
'Huge gap'
Iran however warned it remained unhappy with proposals on those issues and others, warning of the "huge gap" between parties.
"We need to be assured that when (we) come together again, we will be allowed to add, introduce our own new languages, and to put into brackets any part or paragraph," its delegate said.
That raised the prospect that any new talks could follow the pattern seen in Busan, where repeated attempts by the chair to synthesise and streamline text encountered resistance.
Earlier, delegations seeking an ambitious treaty warned that a handful of countries were steadfastly blocking progress.
A French minister accused the like-minded group of "continuing obstruction," while Fiji's Sivendra Michael called out a "very minority group" for "blocking the process."
While countries have declined to directly name those preventing a deal, public statements and submissions have shown Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have sought to block production cuts and other ambitious goals.
None of the delegations have responded to repeated AFP requests for comment.
Nearly 200 nations gathered in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that were supposed to result in the world's first accord on the issue after two years of discussions. © Anthony Wallace, AFP
Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira said earlier Sunday that another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal.
"We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP.
But environmental groups had pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary.
"We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution," said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF.
While dozens of countries support production limits and phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products, left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States.
Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty and were not on the list of countries supporting Rwanda's statement.
(AFP)
Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira said earlier Sunday that another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal.
"We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP.
But environmental groups had pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary.
"We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution," said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF.
While dozens of countries support production limits and phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products, left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States.
Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty and were not on the list of countries supporting Rwanda's statement.
(AFP)
Nations warn of deadlock at landmark plastic pollution talks
ByAFP
November 30, 2024
Nearly 200 countries are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution - Copyright AFP Roland de Courson
Sara Hussein and Katie Forster
Diplomats warned Saturday that a majority of countries could walk away from talks on the world’s first plastic pollution agreement if a handful of delegations continue resisting calls to compromise.
Nearly 200 countries are in South Korea’s Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution.
But efforts to reach the landmark agreement are locked over several key sticking points, particularly reducing production and phasing out chemicals believed or known to harm human health.
Over 100 countries back those measures, and insist a treaty without them will fail to solve the pollution crisis.
But around a dozen nations — mostly producers of plastic precursors derived from fossil fuels — are strongly opposed.
plastick
Long one of the top sources of ocean plastic, the Philippines is hoping new legislation requiring big companies to pay for waste solutions will help clean up its act – Copyright AFP/File Jam Sta Rosa
As a result, just a day before talks are supposed to end, the draft text remains full of opposing views and contradictory language.
And frustration is growing.
“The overwhelming majority of delegates here demand an ambitious treaty,” said Panama’s delegation head Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez.
“If the reduction of production is not there, there is no treaty.”
“We cannot let a few loud voices derail the process,” he added.
– ‘Ready to walk away’ –
A diplomat from the High Ambition Coalition, which groups dozens of countries seeking a strong deal, echoed that sentiment.
“We are a large group uniting around key effective elements, and getting ready to walk away,” he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
Plastic production has doubled in 20 years – Copyright POOL/AFP JUNG YEON-JE
He warned that “some countries” were actively considering calling a vote, which would circumvent the UN’s traditional approach of agreement by consensus and could “raise a lot of eyebrows.”
It was a possibility being increasingly discussed as a “last resort,” said the Democratic Republic of Congo’s J.M. Bope Bope Lapwong.
“I think that if we can’t reach an agreement, we’ll be obliged to go to a vote. We cannot come all this way, all these kilometres, to fail,” he told AFP.
“True, it’s not the usual way at UN meetings, and we will do it to our shame — because when you negotiate, you don’t expect to win it all.”
More than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, while plastic production is expected to triple by 2060.
The impact of plastic pollution in lakes is less well researched than in the oceans – Copyright AFP Asif HASSAN
Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to move to a vote if progress stalls, arguing that countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia have not offered any compromises during talks.
Neither delegation responded to repeated requests by AFP for comment.
“A handful of governments… are looking backwards and refusing to take the steps necessary for us all to advance,” said Greenpeace’s Graham Forbes.
“I think we are at a very risky moment right now of being sold out, and that would be an absolute catastrophe.”
But observers warned that calling a vote would be a risky strategy that could alienate even some countries in favour of a strong treaty.
Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said.
But that too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising adoption of a treaty down the road.
“We don’t want to move outside the framework of the United Nations,” said an official from the French environment ministry.
“We hope we will find agreement between now and tomorrow and that’s the option that we’re focused on,” he added.
“A lot can happen in 24 hours.”
ByAFP
November 30, 2024
Nearly 200 countries are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution - Copyright AFP Roland de Courson
Sara Hussein and Katie Forster
Diplomats warned Saturday that a majority of countries could walk away from talks on the world’s first plastic pollution agreement if a handful of delegations continue resisting calls to compromise.
Nearly 200 countries are in South Korea’s Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution.
But efforts to reach the landmark agreement are locked over several key sticking points, particularly reducing production and phasing out chemicals believed or known to harm human health.
Over 100 countries back those measures, and insist a treaty without them will fail to solve the pollution crisis.
But around a dozen nations — mostly producers of plastic precursors derived from fossil fuels — are strongly opposed.
plastick
Long one of the top sources of ocean plastic, the Philippines is hoping new legislation requiring big companies to pay for waste solutions will help clean up its act – Copyright AFP/File Jam Sta Rosa
As a result, just a day before talks are supposed to end, the draft text remains full of opposing views and contradictory language.
And frustration is growing.
“The overwhelming majority of delegates here demand an ambitious treaty,” said Panama’s delegation head Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez.
“If the reduction of production is not there, there is no treaty.”
“We cannot let a few loud voices derail the process,” he added.
– ‘Ready to walk away’ –
A diplomat from the High Ambition Coalition, which groups dozens of countries seeking a strong deal, echoed that sentiment.
“We are a large group uniting around key effective elements, and getting ready to walk away,” he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
Plastic production has doubled in 20 years – Copyright POOL/AFP JUNG YEON-JE
He warned that “some countries” were actively considering calling a vote, which would circumvent the UN’s traditional approach of agreement by consensus and could “raise a lot of eyebrows.”
It was a possibility being increasingly discussed as a “last resort,” said the Democratic Republic of Congo’s J.M. Bope Bope Lapwong.
“I think that if we can’t reach an agreement, we’ll be obliged to go to a vote. We cannot come all this way, all these kilometres, to fail,” he told AFP.
“True, it’s not the usual way at UN meetings, and we will do it to our shame — because when you negotiate, you don’t expect to win it all.”
More than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, while plastic production is expected to triple by 2060.
The impact of plastic pollution in lakes is less well researched than in the oceans – Copyright AFP Asif HASSAN
Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to move to a vote if progress stalls, arguing that countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia have not offered any compromises during talks.
Neither delegation responded to repeated requests by AFP for comment.
“A handful of governments… are looking backwards and refusing to take the steps necessary for us all to advance,” said Greenpeace’s Graham Forbes.
“I think we are at a very risky moment right now of being sold out, and that would be an absolute catastrophe.”
But observers warned that calling a vote would be a risky strategy that could alienate even some countries in favour of a strong treaty.
Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said.
But that too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising adoption of a treaty down the road.
“We don’t want to move outside the framework of the United Nations,” said an official from the French environment ministry.
“We hope we will find agreement between now and tomorrow and that’s the option that we’re focused on,” he added.
“A lot can happen in 24 hours.”
Greenpeace activists board tanker in plastic protest
By AFP
November 30, 2024
Attempts to reach an agreement in Busan on curbing plastic pollution have stalled over several key sticking points - Copyright AFP MANAN VATSYAYANA
Greenpeace activists boarded a tanker off South Korea on Saturday in an action intended to draw attention to calls for a treaty to curb plastic pollution, the environmental group said.
Nearly 200 countries are in Busan to negotiate the deal, but there is little sign of agreement with just a day left before talks are due to end.
Greenpeace said the tanker Buena Alba, anchored off the Hanwha TotalEnergies complex, was scheduled to pick up propylene, which is used to manufacture plastic.
“The activists boarded the vessel peacefully and met no reaction from the vessel crew,” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Angelica Pago.
“We painted ‘PLASTIC KILLS’ on the side of the vessel and the climbers successfully set up a camp,” she told AFP.
“They intend to stay in order to continue putting pressure on the negotiators to resist fossil fuel and petrochemical industry interference in the talks and to deliver a treaty that firmly cuts plastic production.”
A spokesman for South Korea’s coast guard told AFP police had been “deployed on the ship, and we are making warning announcements to facilitate a safe disembarkation”.
He said a “thorough investigation” would be carried out to determine if there were any “illegal elements” to the protest.
Attempts to reach an agreement on curbing plastic pollution have stalled over several key sticking points, including whether to cut new plastic production.
Dozens of countries, backed by environmental groups, insist a treaty without production cuts will fail to solve the problem, but a group of largely oil-producing states is fiercely opposed.
“The brave activists that boarded that vessel today show the courage and should inspire governments here to hold the line and do what everyone knows is obvious,” Greenpeace delegation head Graham Forbes told reporters in Busan.
The negotiations have reached a “pivotal moment”, he said, but “a handful of governments… are looking backwards and refusing to take the steps necessary for us all to advance”.
“I think we are at a very risky moment right now of being sold out, and that would be an absolute catastrophe,” Forbes said.
By AFP
November 30, 2024
Attempts to reach an agreement in Busan on curbing plastic pollution have stalled over several key sticking points - Copyright AFP MANAN VATSYAYANA
Greenpeace activists boarded a tanker off South Korea on Saturday in an action intended to draw attention to calls for a treaty to curb plastic pollution, the environmental group said.
Nearly 200 countries are in Busan to negotiate the deal, but there is little sign of agreement with just a day left before talks are due to end.
Greenpeace said the tanker Buena Alba, anchored off the Hanwha TotalEnergies complex, was scheduled to pick up propylene, which is used to manufacture plastic.
“The activists boarded the vessel peacefully and met no reaction from the vessel crew,” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Angelica Pago.
“We painted ‘PLASTIC KILLS’ on the side of the vessel and the climbers successfully set up a camp,” she told AFP.
“They intend to stay in order to continue putting pressure on the negotiators to resist fossil fuel and petrochemical industry interference in the talks and to deliver a treaty that firmly cuts plastic production.”
A spokesman for South Korea’s coast guard told AFP police had been “deployed on the ship, and we are making warning announcements to facilitate a safe disembarkation”.
He said a “thorough investigation” would be carried out to determine if there were any “illegal elements” to the protest.
Attempts to reach an agreement on curbing plastic pollution have stalled over several key sticking points, including whether to cut new plastic production.
Dozens of countries, backed by environmental groups, insist a treaty without production cuts will fail to solve the problem, but a group of largely oil-producing states is fiercely opposed.
“The brave activists that boarded that vessel today show the courage and should inspire governments here to hold the line and do what everyone knows is obvious,” Greenpeace delegation head Graham Forbes told reporters in Busan.
The negotiations have reached a “pivotal moment”, he said, but “a handful of governments… are looking backwards and refusing to take the steps necessary for us all to advance”.
“I think we are at a very risky moment right now of being sold out, and that would be an absolute catastrophe,” Forbes said.
Nations warn of ‘obstruction’ at plastic talks
By AFP
November 30, 2024
A handful of mostly oil-producing states are holding firm over key sticking points on a treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Sara Hussein and Katie Forster
Dozens of countries warned Sunday that a handful of nations were obstructing efforts in South Korea to reach an ambitious landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution.
With hours to go until negotiations are scheduled to end, a group of mostly oil-producing “like-minded countries” have reportedly refused to compromise on key sticking points.
Those include setting targets for reducing plastic production and phasing out chemicals known or believed to be harmful to human health.
“We also are worried by the continuing obstruction by the so-called like-minded countries,” Olga Givernet, France’s minister delegate for energy, told reporters.
“Finding an agreement for us on (an) ambitious treaty that reduces plastic pollution remains an absolute priority for France,” Givernet said.
“We are planning on pushing it, pushing it again.”
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and over 90 percent of plastic is not recycled.
But while everyone negotiating in Busan agrees on the problem, they disagree on the solution.
Countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia insist the deal should focus only on waste, and reject calls for binding global measures.
They have made their position clear in documents submitted in negotiations and during public plenary sessions, though neither delegation responded to repeated AFP requests for comment.
“It is disappointing to see that a small number of members remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change,” said Rwanda’s Juliet Kabera.
“We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty,” she warned.
– ‘We have hope’ –
Fiji’s Sivendra Michael also called out a “very minority group” for “blocking the process.”
The latest draft text for the treaty contains a range of options, reflecting the ongoing divisions. Delivery of a new version has been repeatedly delayed.
Time is running out for the talks. The venue where negotiations are being held has only been rented until mid-morning Monday, sources told AFP.
Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to move to a vote if progress stalls.
But observers caution that would be a risky strategy that could alienate even some countries in favour of a strong treaty.
Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said.
That too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising adoption of a treaty down the road.
Mexico’s head of delegation Camila Zepeda said she did not favour calling a vote.
“We have hope in consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but there is a possibility of having critical mass to move forward,” she told AFP.
“I believe that what is most important is to show this critical mass, and showing this critical mass helps us so that the more contentious issues can be unblocked.”
Over 100 countries now support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products.
But representatives of China and the United States, the world’s two top plastics producers, were absent from the stage at a press conference urging ambition.
“They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part,” said Mexico’s Zepeda.
“This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it’s not like it’s them against us.”
Panama’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that “history will not forgive us” for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty.
“This is the time to step up or get out.”
By AFP
November 30, 2024
A handful of mostly oil-producing states are holding firm over key sticking points on a treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Sara Hussein and Katie Forster
Dozens of countries warned Sunday that a handful of nations were obstructing efforts in South Korea to reach an ambitious landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution.
With hours to go until negotiations are scheduled to end, a group of mostly oil-producing “like-minded countries” have reportedly refused to compromise on key sticking points.
Those include setting targets for reducing plastic production and phasing out chemicals known or believed to be harmful to human health.
“We also are worried by the continuing obstruction by the so-called like-minded countries,” Olga Givernet, France’s minister delegate for energy, told reporters.
“Finding an agreement for us on (an) ambitious treaty that reduces plastic pollution remains an absolute priority for France,” Givernet said.
“We are planning on pushing it, pushing it again.”
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and over 90 percent of plastic is not recycled.
But while everyone negotiating in Busan agrees on the problem, they disagree on the solution.
Countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia insist the deal should focus only on waste, and reject calls for binding global measures.
They have made their position clear in documents submitted in negotiations and during public plenary sessions, though neither delegation responded to repeated AFP requests for comment.
“It is disappointing to see that a small number of members remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change,” said Rwanda’s Juliet Kabera.
“We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty,” she warned.
– ‘We have hope’ –
Fiji’s Sivendra Michael also called out a “very minority group” for “blocking the process.”
The latest draft text for the treaty contains a range of options, reflecting the ongoing divisions. Delivery of a new version has been repeatedly delayed.
Time is running out for the talks. The venue where negotiations are being held has only been rented until mid-morning Monday, sources told AFP.
Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to move to a vote if progress stalls.
But observers caution that would be a risky strategy that could alienate even some countries in favour of a strong treaty.
Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said.
That too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising adoption of a treaty down the road.
Mexico’s head of delegation Camila Zepeda said she did not favour calling a vote.
“We have hope in consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but there is a possibility of having critical mass to move forward,” she told AFP.
“I believe that what is most important is to show this critical mass, and showing this critical mass helps us so that the more contentious issues can be unblocked.”
Over 100 countries now support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products.
But representatives of China and the United States, the world’s two top plastics producers, were absent from the stage at a press conference urging ambition.
“They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part,” said Mexico’s Zepeda.
“This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it’s not like it’s them against us.”
Panama’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that “history will not forgive us” for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty.
“This is the time to step up or get out.”
"Despite the majority support of promising proposals for global product and chemical bans, the latest draft treaty text offers nothing of use," one advocate said.
Civil society groups hold a press conference outside the negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty in Busan, South Korea on November 29, 2024.
(Photo: Greenpeace)
Olivia Rosane
Nov 29, 2024
COMMON DREAMS
As negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty enter their final stretch in Busan, South Korea, environmental and human rights advocates warned Friday that national delegates are "sleepwalking into a treaty that will not be worth the paper it will be written on."
The current treaty draft text, shared with delegates on Friday, excludes key civil society demands, such as a clear and binding limit on plastic production and a ban or phaseout of the most dangerous plastics and chemicals.
"Despite the majority support of promising proposals for a strong and binding treaty on plastic pollution, what we have currently in this text is far from what we need," Erin Simon, WWF vice president and head of plastic waste and business, said in a statement.
"A weak treaty based on voluntary measures will break under the weight of the plastic crisis and will lock us into an endless cycle of unnecessary harm."
A majority of the countries gathered for the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to advance a plastics treaty supports bans on the most dangerous plastics and chemicals, binding rules on production design to ease a transition toward a circular economy, sufficient financial support to make the treaty a reality, and a robust mechanism to strengthen the treaty over time. They are backed by nearly 3 million people in more than 182 countries who signed a petition ahead of the last round of negotiations calling for an ambitious treaty.
Since negotiations began on November 25, however, progress has been stymied by oil-and-gas-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia, which called capping plastic production a red line, according toThe Associated Press. At the same time, plastics industry lobbyists together make up the largest single delegation at the talks.
"It's very simple: To end plastic pollution we need to reduce plastic production," Simon said. "To do that we need binding global bans on specific harmful plastic products and chemicals. Despite the majority support of promising proposals for global product and chemical bans, the latest draft treaty text offers nothing of use."
In order to bridge the gap on limiting plastics production before negotiations conclude on Sunday or Monday, Panama put forward a proposal on Thursday that would not set a numerical plastics production limit at this time, but would entrust signatories to do so at a later meeting. This proposal was backed by over 100 countries and was included in the draft text shared on Friday, alongside an option to eliminate the article on production.
Juan Carlos Monterrey, the head of Panama's delegation, saw the inclusion of the country's proposal as a step in the right direction.
"This is great! This is great," Monterrey told the AP. "It is a big show of force, of muscle, for those countries that are ambitious. And also this shows that consensus is still possible."
However, Monterey acknowledged to Reuters that his offering was a compromise.
"Most of the countries... came here with the idea of including a numeric target (of plastic reduction), but... we have put forth a proposal that not only crosses but stomped our own red lines... So we're seeking all the other delegations that have not moved a centimeter to... meet us halfway."
Environmental advocates and civil society groups warn that delegates should not chase consensus at the expense of ambition.
Graham Forbes, who leads Greenpeace's delegation, told the AP that the draft was a "weak attempt to force us to reach a conclusion and get a treaty for treaty's sake," though he considered the inclusion of Panama's proposal the one bright spot in the text.
In addition to the question of binding production limits, another sticking point is a ban on particularly harmful plastics and additives, which currently has not made it into the treaty language.
"What we have right now isn't a treaty with common rules at all. It's a list of measures so broad that they're effectively meaningless," WWF's Simon explained. "For example, we don't have bans, we have suggestions. We have lists of products and chemicals but no one is compelled to do anything of substance with them. Without political will to bind those articles, we would have zero chance of ending the plastic crisis, which is what we came to Busan to do."
Some countries as well as plastics industry representatives argue that the treaty is not the proper vehicle to regulate chemicals.
"At this point the progressive majority has a decision to be made," Simon argued. "Agree to a treaty among the willing even if that means leaving some countries that don't want a strong treaty or concede to countries that will likely never join the treaty anyway, failing the planet in the process."
WWF's global plastics policy lead Eirik Lindebjerg added: "We are calling on countries to not accept the low level of ambition reflected in this draft as it does not contain any specific upstream measures such as global bans on high risk plastic products and chemicals of concern supported by the majority of countries. Without these measures the treaty will fail to meaningfully address plastic pollution. High ambition countries must ensure that these measures are part of the final treaty text or develop an ambitious treaty among the willing."
On Friday, a coalition of observing civil society groups held a press conference in which they issued a statement making a final call for an ambitious treaty.
"Contrary to their excuses, ambitious countries have the power and the pathways to forge a treaty to end the global plastic crisis," the statement, signed by groups including WWF, Greenpeace, Break Free From Plastic, and Friends of the Earth, said. "What we are severely lacking right now, however, is the determination of our leaders to do what is right and to fight for the treaty they promised the world two years ago."
It continued: "A weak treaty based on voluntary measures will break under the weight of the plastic crisis and will lock us into an endless cycle of unnecessary harm. The clear demand from impacted communities and the overwhelming majority of citizens, scientists, and businesses for binding global rules across the entire lifecycle is irrefutable."
The signatories also said that ambitious nations should be willing to walk away and craft their own, stronger treaty rather than compromise on a weak document.
"In these final throes of negotiations, we need governments to show courage. They must not compromise under pressure exerted by a small group of low-ambition states and hinge the life of our planet on unachievable consensus," they concluded. "We demand a strong treaty that protects our health and the health of future generations."
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