Moment of Truth for World-First Plastic Pollution Treaty
AFP/APP
Bangkok: Negotiators are heading to Busan, South Korea, next week to conclude two years of negotiations on the world’s first treaty aimed at combating plastic pollution.
Despite broad consensus on the scale of the crisis, significant divisions remain over critical issues like limiting plastic production, regulating chemicals, and deciding the treaty’s adoption process—whether by consensus or majority vote.
UN Environment Programme chief Inger Andersen called the upcoming talks a “moment of truth,” emphasizing the urgency of reaching a resolution. Andersen acknowledged the persistent challenges, urging nations to bridge differences, as failure to do so could extend the negotiation timeline. “Everyone wants an end to plastic pollution. Now it is up to member states to deliver,” she asserted.
The Scale of the Problem
The statistics paint a dire picture. Global plastic production reached 460 million tonnes in 2019, doubling since 2000, and is expected to triple by 2060. Over 90% of plastic remains unrecycled, with more than 20 million tonnes leaking into the environment annually. Microplastics have infiltrated the ocean’s depths, mountain peaks, and even human bodies. Plastic production also contributes roughly 3% of global emissions, primarily due to its fossil fuel origins.
Diverging Approaches
The main fault line in the negotiations lies in addressing the plastic crisis. The High Ambition Coalition (HAC)—comprising many African, Asian, and European countries—advocates for tackling the full lifecycle of plastics. This includes reducing production, promoting reuse and recycling, and addressing waste management.
Conversely, oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia favor a narrower focus on downstream waste management. The HAC has warned against allowing “vested interests” to undermine binding global targets for reducing plastic production.
Efforts to Build Consensus
Four previous negotiation rounds have yielded a sprawling 70-page draft. To streamline discussions, the talks’ chair has proposed a condensed 17-page document highlighting points of agreement, such as reusability. However, contentious issues remain largely unresolved.
A European diplomat criticized the new draft as “not ambitious enough,” while the Center for International Environmental Law dismissed it as a recipe for an “ineffective and useless treaty.”
Key Players and Challenges
The positions of the United States and China—two major stakeholders—remain pivotal. Earlier signs of U.S. support for production limits have reportedly waned, and the election of Donald Trump has raised doubts about Washington’s future commitment.
Some plastic producers advocate focusing solely on waste management, warning against production caps. Others support global standards, including sustainable production targets.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
WWF’s global plastics policy lead, Eirik Lindebjerg, expressed optimism, noting that an “overwhelming majority” of countries support binding rules across the plastic lifecycle. However, he cautioned against letting a minority of reluctant nations or industry interests derail the treaty.
As expectations mount, the outcome of the Busan talks will determine whether the world can take a decisive step toward addressing the escalating plastic crisis.
