Countries negotiating a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution failed to reach an agreement at the fifth UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting in Busan, South Korea. Intended as the final round of talks, the meeting ended with over 100 nations supporting a reduction in plastic production, while a small group of oil-producing countries insisted that the treaty should only address plastic waste management.
The talks, aimed at creating a legally binding global treaty, revealed deep divisions between countries over critical issues. Key points of contention included whether to cap plastic production, how to manage hazardous chemicals in plastic products, and securing financial support for developing countries to implement the treaty.
An alternative proposal, backed by Panama and over 100 countries, sought to establish a global reduction target for plastic production. However, another camp of nations, including major petrochemical producers like Saudi Arabia, opposed production caps and favored a focus solely on managing plastic waste.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiations, acknowledged the divergence of views. “While I saw points of convergence in many areas, positions remain divergent in some others,” he said. The revised treaty document, which was presented at the meeting, was filled with unresolved options on these sensitive topics, making it clear that consensus had not been reached.
Rwanda’s Director General of Environment, Juliet Kabera, criticized the lack of binding measures, stressing that a treaty relying solely on voluntary actions would be ineffective. “It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail,” she remarked.
The tension was palpable, with countries like Saudi Arabia using procedural tactics to delay negotiations. Saudi delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz remarked, “There was never any consensus,” referring to efforts by petrochemical-producing nations to exclude certain proposals from the document.
The main producers of plastic, including China, the United States, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, had a significant influence on the discussions. Despite these divisions, the treaty, if agreed upon, would have been one of the most significant environmental deals since the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The setback in Busan follows a contentious COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where similar procedural delays hindered progress on climate agreements. Senegal’s National Delegate Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla called the exclusion of voting rights a “big mistake,” arguing that the UN’s consensus process was being exploited by a few nations to block meaningful action.
With plastic production expected to triple by 2050, and growing concerns over the toxic effects of plastics, negotiators expressed urgency to resume talks. Panama’s head of delegation, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, emphasized, “Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis.”
The next round of talks will come with heightened stakes as countries aim to address the mounting global plastic pollution crisis.
