This year does not end with a global plastic treaty. The countries that negotiated an internationally legally binding instrument on this contamination until Sunday suspended the sessions.
As the fifth day of debate was still ongoing, no agreement was reached and it was decided to postpone the exchanges until next year.
More than 3300 delegates, including members representing over 170 nations and observers from over 440 organizations, gathered in Busan (South Korea) since November 25.
Global plastic treaty: negotiation failed
The week of negotiations resulted in an agreement on a “President’s text,” which will serve as a starting point for the discussions that will resume in 2025.
Throughout the week, members of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) on plastic pollution debated two documents from the INC President, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso.
An agreement will be sought in 2025.
Plastic pollution is so widespread that it has been detected even in clouds, in the deepest oceanic trenches, and in virtually all parts of the human body, including the brain and breast milk.
Although everyone acknowledges the existence of the problem, opinions diverge radically on how to combat it.
Delegations in Busan sought to agree on delicate issues such as the limit of plastic production, the possible ban on toxic chemicals, or the funding of measures.
However, divergences persist on several key issues. “Much is at stake, but so is the commitment we have in that room,” acknowledged Inger Andersen, head of the United Nations Environment Programme. “No one wants a bad deal,” she stated.
The “two sides” in the Busan negotiations
On one side, negotiators recognize the High Ambition Coalition (HAC), which includes numerous African, European, and Asian States. These countries aim for a treaty that covers the entire “life cycle” of plastics, from production to waste.
The HAC advocates for global goals that compel reducing production and waste. It also fights to impose changes in manufacturing to facilitate reuse or recycling.
On the other side, mainly large oil producers like Russia and Saudi Arabia seek the treaty to only address waste management.
The divisions paralyzed the four previous rounds of negotiations, resulting in a treaty draft of over 70 pages that was deemed “completely unworkable” by general opinion.
To break the deadlock, Valdivieso drafted an alternative project. The text emphasizes areas of agreement, such as the need to promote reusable plastics.
The Ecuadorian diplomat scored a first victory on Monday by ensuring that the Busan negotiations were based on his simplified project. Valdivieso reminded the delegations that they have only 63 hours of work in this “crucial week” to reach an agreement.
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