The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) for a Global Plastics Treaty ended today with no treaty in sight. Member states have agreed to meet again for what could be the final negotiation meeting to land a deal.
“We came to Busan with a shared vision of getting a treaty to protect fenceline communities who bear a disproportionate burden of plastics pollution stemming from constant exposure and intake of plastics. It’s a pity that Member states continue to dance around the negotiations disregarding the dire consequences of plastic pollution on human health and the environment,” said project lead for the Pan-African Plastic Project Hellen Kahaso Dena.
“Ambitious countries need to up their game, step up with courage, and deliver a treaty that cuts plastic production to alleviate our communities from the detrimental impacts of plastics.”
“Despite the African group of negotiators putting up a strong case for a dedicated standalone finance mechanism supported by 126 member states, the final chair’s text completely ignored it. The incorporation of this financial mechanism is critical for developing nations to implement this treaty once it is agreed. We hope to see more transparency, commitment and political goodwill in the subsequent negotiations.”
“Every day that governments allow polluters to continue flooding the world with plastic, we all pay the price. This delay comes with dire consequences for people and the planet, ruthlessly sacrificing those on the frontlines of this crisis. But this week over 100 Member States, representing billions of people, rejected a toothless deal that would have accomplished nothing, and stood before the world committing to an ambitious treaty. Now, it’s time they stand by this promise and deliver,” stated Greenpeace head of delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations Graham Forbes.
“For the next meeting, the assignment for member states is clear: the ambitious majority must break through fossil fuel influence and the obstruction of a few, to deliver an effective agreement with binding global targets and measures to reduce plastic production. They must fight for protections against dangerous chemicals, bans on single-use plastics, reuse targets, and an equitable financing plan. They must use their power to ensure the INC process is inclusive and just, prioritize access for the communities most affected by plastic pollution.”
“We stand at a historic crossroads. The opportunity to secure an impactful plastics treaty that protects our health, biodiversity and climate remains within reach. Strong political headwinds make this more challenging, but the lesson from INC5 is clear: ambitious countries must not allow the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries, backed by a small minority of countries, to prevent the will of the vast majority. A strong agreement that protects people and the planet is our only option.”
