Chemistry vs Planet: Oil industry lobbies dominate talks on Global Plastics Treaty

While the fifth and decisive round of negotiations for a legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution takes place in Busan, the massive presence of lobbyists from the chemical and fossil fuel industries risks compromising the ambition of the agreement.

An analysis of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) revealed an alarming fact: as many as 220 representatives of the plastics industry are present at the negotiations (INC-5). A record number, which it even exceeds the delegations of the European Union (191 members) and the host country, South Korea (140 members). Really, delegates from the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDs)among the most affected by plastic pollution, there are only 89outnumbered by industry lobbyists. As if that wasn’t enough, sixteen plastic industry lobbyists are present at the talks as part of national delegations from states such as China, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, Iran, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.

This massive presence raises serious concerns about the influence these lobbyists could have on the negotiations. The objective of the treaty, promoted by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in February 2022, is clear: to end plastic pollution throughout its life cycle, from production to disposal. But how to achieve this goal if those who profit from plastic production have such a significant weight in decisions? “CIEL’s analysis reveals how these industrial lobbies are also willing to poison our planet and people’s health to sabotage the agreement in order to protect their profits,” he declares Giuseppe Unghereseresponsible for the Pollution campaign Greenpeace Italy.

The crucial issue is the reduction of plastic production. While the scientific community and environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, call for binding limits on the production of virgin plastic, the industry strenuously opposes it, focusing on solutions that do not solve the underlying problem, such as recycling and waste management. “From the first day of negotiations,” says Delphine Levi Alvares of CIEL, “we have seen industry lobbyists use tactics of obstruction, distraction and disinformation. Their strategy is clear: preserve the financial interests of companies, putting profits before human health and the future of the Planet“. This strategy is not new: the plastic industry, like the fossil fuel industry, has a long history of aggressive lobbying and misinformation to delay action on the environmental crisis.

The data on plastic pollution are unequivocal: production has more than doubled in the last twenty years, going from 156 million tonnes in 2000 to 353 million tonnes in 2019and a further tripling is expected by 2060. Only 9% of the plastic produced is recycled.

Every year, around 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced globallyand at current growth rates, this figure is expected to triple by 2060. Millions of tons of plastic end up in the oceans, forming islands of floating waste, trapping and killing marine animals, and fragmenting into microplastics that enter the food chain, also contaminating the air and soil.

The consequences for human health are still being studied, but the prospects are not reassuring. Microplastics have been found in the water we drink, the food we eat and even the air we breathe. Scientific studies suggest that these particles can interfere with the endocrine system, cause damage to the reproductive system and increase the risk of cancer. Furthermore, Plastic pollution has a devastating impact on the most vulnerable communitieswho often live near landfills or incineration plants, exposed to toxic substances and unhealthy living conditions.

The stakes are high: the future of our Planet. We cannot allow the interests of a few to prevail over the well-being of all. It is time to act with courage and determination to protect our common home. As Graham Forbes, head of the Greenpeace delegation, says: “The moral, economic and scientific imperatives are clear: by the end of the week, member states must develop a global treaty on plastics that prioritize human health and a livable planet over CEO compensation“.

Greenpeace, together with the movement Break Free from Plasticdelivered to the global leaders gathered in Busan the signatures of almost three million people who in recent years have signed a petition calling for an ambitious global treaty on plastics. Italy has contributed significantly to this appeal, gathering over 350 thousand members. The petition calls on governments to move beyond recycling as the only solution and to commit to reduce plastic production by at least 75% by 2040; force large multinationals to sell more and more products in bulk or with reusable packaging; ensure that developed countries lead a just transition and offer support to developing countries; give voice to Indigenous Peoples, vulnerable communities and workers in planning a transition towards an economy based on reuse.