World Leaders Fail to Reach Agreement on Global Plastics Treaty, Plan to Continue Talks

Efforts by nations to come to an agreement on a global plastics treaty failed on Monday. While more than 100 countries sought to put a limit on the world’s plastics production — in addition to tackling recycling and cleanup — oil and gas companies were only prepared to address the problem of plastic waste.

The meeting in Busan, South Korea was supposed to be the last, but negotiations will continue into 2025, reported The Associated Press.

“It is clear that there is still persisting divergence,” said Inger Andersen, the United Nations Environment Programme’s executive director, as Reuters reported.

The fifth meeting of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) ended with countries still far from establishing the fundamental scope of a global plastics treaty.

Putting a cap on plastic production, the management of “chemicals of concern” used in the plastics making process and plastic products, as well as financing for developing countries in implementing the treaty were the most divisive issues during negotiations.

Panama proposed a path to a worldwide plastic production reduction target, which was supported by more than 100 nations, while an entirely different proposal had no provisions for a cap on production.

According to a Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analysis, more than 200 representatives of the chemical and fossil fuel industry attended the talks — the largest group of delegates at the meeting, reported The Guardian.

Sixteen plastics industry lobbyists were present in the delegations from China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Egypt, Finland and the Dominican Republic.

A draft revised document released Sunday by Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the meeting, could be the foundation for a treaty, but still included multiple options on the most contentious issues, reported Reuters.

“A treaty that… only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable,” said Juliet Kabera, Rwandan Environment Management Authority director general. “It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail.”

Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations expressed strong opposition to the reduction of plastics production and attempted to delay negotiations with procedural tactics.

“There was never any consensus,” said Al Gwaiz, delegate from Saudi Arabia. “There are a couple of articles that somehow seem to make it (into the document) despite our continued insistence that they are not within the scope.”

According to dataset manager Eunomia, the United States, China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Korea were 2023’s five biggest producers of polymers.

If a treaty could have been established at INC-5, it would have been among the most important environmental protection deals since the Paris Agreement.

During the talks, the U.S., which had expressed support for voluntary production reductions, was accused of not using its sway to press for legally binding actions.

“Despite maintaining in the lead-up to and during the INC that production and chemicals were important measures for the treaty, they refused to… answer the call to join more than 100 countries calling for legally binding measures,” said Rachel Radvany, campaigner for environmental law group CIEL, as reported by The Guardian.

A 2023 report from the UN Environment Programme found more than 3,200 plastic chemicals of concern, which are especially toxic for women and children, Reuters reported.

Plastic production worldwide is on course to triple by mid-century. 

Several negotiators participating in the talks expressed an urgent desire to resume the talks.

“Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, head of Panama’s delegation, as reported by Reuters. “When we reconvene, the stakes will be higher.”