The countdown has begun: the future is being decided in Busan. World leaders have just days to reach a historic agreement against plastic pollutionbut the negotiations are a minefield.
Delegates from 175 countries are in fact gathered for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) of the United Nationswith the aim of reaching a historic agreement to combat plastic pollution. But a few days before the December 1st deadline, there are still many challenges to overcome.
“As negotiators come together to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to end plastic pollution, they must ensure it is ambitious, credible and fair,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said urgently. “We have a historic opportunity to start building a world free from plastic pollution and waste: a fundamental step to safeguard our Planet.”
As negotiators gather to reach an agreement on a landmark treaty to end plastic pollution, they must ensure it is ambitious, credible and just.
We have a historic opportunity to start building a world free of plastic pollution and waste – a vital step for safeguarding our… pic.twitter.com/jfpmG0Hf2Z
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 28, 2024
Expectations are very high, but the road is uphill. Negotiations are progressing slowly, amidst procedural differences, multiple proposals and attempts to return to topics already discussed in the past. Today, the president of INC-5, Luis Vayas Valdiviesoreleased a document outlining possible treaty measures, including a global list of plastic products to manage and a financial mechanism to help developing countries.
However, crucial issues remain unresolved. One of the most controversial points concerns the goal of reducing plastic production. While many states, led by Panama, they ask for a concrete commitment to limit the production of new plasticoil and gas producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, they strongly oppose this measure.
“The document contains a global goal to reduce plastic production,” he said Graham Forbes by Greenpeace. “Keeping this aspect in the final text of the treaty must represent a limit for any country that seriously wants to put an end to plastic pollution.”
The financing mechanism for developing countries is also at the center of the debate. While the draft treaty suggests tying implementation of the agreement to the resources available to countries, this is not yet clear how rich countries will contribute to the fund and whether a separate fund will be established to support the most vulnerable states.
Just two days before the deadline, a new draft text highlighted further divergences, with eight possible definitions for the single word “plastic” and five options for the meaning of “plastic pollution.” The issue of hazardous chemicals and the health article also remain flashpoints.
Despite the difficulties, some diplomats remain cautiously optimistic. “We have to compromise to reach a consensus,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez of Panama. “.
But environmentalists are sounding the alarm. “We urge countries not to accept the low level of ambition reflected in this draft,” he said Eirik Lindebjerg of the WWF. “It contains no specific upstream measures, such as global bans on high-risk plastic products and chemicals of concern… without these measures the treaty will fail.”
Will world leaders be able to find an ambitious, credible and fair agreement?
