Inger Andersen, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, addressed the opening of the Fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Busan on Monday.
Delegates from 175 countries convened in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth round of discussions aimed at finalizing an international treaty to combat plastic pollution. However, deep-seated disagreements among nations have raised concerns about the likelihood of reaching a conclusive agreement. South Korea is hosting the fifth and purportedly final UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting this week, following the previous round in Ottawa in April, which failed to establish a pathway for capping plastic production.
Instead, the focus of the current talks is on addressing chemicals of concern and other measures, as some countries, notably China, vehemently opposed efforts to limit plastic production, despite the objections of nations most affected by plastic pollution. The ongoing divisions mirror the longstanding conflicts that have hindered UN efforts to address global warming. The most recent climate summit, COP29, concluded with an agreement that was criticized by poorer nations as insufficient.
INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso emphasized at the opening session in Busan that without substantial intervention, the annual amount of plastic entering the environment is projected to nearly double by 2040 compared to 2022. He highlighted the presence of microplastics in human organs, underscoring the existential challenge facing humanity.
In August, the United States surprised many by announcing its support for plastic production caps in the treaty, aligning with the EU, Kenya, Peru, and other countries in the High Ambition Coalition. However, the recent election of Donald Trump as president has cast doubt on this stance, given his previous presidency's aversion to multilateral agreements and commitments to curbing US oil and petrochemical production.
The US delegation has not clarified whether it will maintain its support for plastic production caps. However, a spokesperson for the WhiteHouse Council on Environmental Quality stated that the US supports ensuring that the global instrument addresses plastic products, chemicals used in plastic products, and the supply of primary plastic polymers.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, expressed confidence that the talks will culminate in an agreement, citing the G20 communique calling for a legally binding treaty by the end of the year. For countries like Fiji, a global plastics treaty is essential to safeguard their fragile ecosystems and public health.
Sivendra Michael, Fiji's Climate Minister and Chief Climate and Plastics Negotiator, highlighted that despite not producing plastic, Fiji is disproportionately affected by downstream pollution. He noted studies showing that most fish consumed in the country are contaminated with microplastics, underscoring the detrimental effects on both the environment and public health.
While the petrochemical industry supports an international treaty, it has urged governments to avoid mandatory plastic production caps and instead focus on reducing plastic waste through recycling. Previous talks have also explored potential funding mechanisms to assist developing countries in implementing the treaty.
At COP29, proposals were made to establish global levies on certain sectors to generate funds for developing countries, including a fee on primary polymer production. However, industry groups have opposed this idea, arguing that it would increase consumer prices.
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