Talks held in Busan, Korea over global plastics pollution have failed to agree a final treaty to tackle the problem as had been planned.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, began on 25 November and concluded on 1 December, and released a ‘Chairs text’ which participants from more than 170 countries agreed would serve as a ‘starting point’ for the sessions that would resume next year.
United Nations Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen said the meeting has made good progress towards securing the deal the world demands. "Through the Busan talks, negotiators have reached a greater degree of convergence on the structure and elements of the treaty text, as well as a better understanding of country positions and shared challenges," Andersen said.
"But it is clear there is persisting divergence in critical areas and more time is needed for these areas to be addressed," Andersen added. One area where disagreement remained was over whether there should be limits on plastic production included in the treaty.
Expressing disappointment at the outcome, The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, backed by more than 275 organisations spanning sectors including financial institutions, brand owners and retailers, waste management companies, NGOs and business organisations, said: “Disappointingly, consensus among all nations remains elusive, which further delays critical action to end plastic pollution. It also fails to deliver the certainty that business needs to mobilise investment and scale solutions.”
However, the coalition welcomed the increased alignment amongst more than 100 countries on elements such as global phase-outs and sustainable levels of plastics production.
Calling for decisive action at the resumed negotiations, dubbed INC5.2. the industry group added: “At the resumed INC5.2 session, governments must make a choice. They can continue negotiating a treaty with universal support but little impact. Or they can agree on a treaty based on strong global rules across the full lifecycle of plastics and with a comprehensive financing mechanism, confident in knowing that this is what the majority of governments, business and citizens want. There’s no time to waste we cannot afford this process sliding into unending negotiations.”
Coalition partners include Unilever, which earlier this year announced that it had partnered with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and EY to establish the Circle Alliance. With an initial investment of $21 million, the partnership is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses across the plastics value chain to scale solutions that reduce plastic use, deal with plastic waste and buildcircular economies.
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