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Nations Fail to Finalize Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution

Efforts to finalize a global treaty on plastic pollution faltered on Monday, with over 100 nations advocating for limits on plastic production while a small group of oil-producing countries sought to focus solely on plastic waste. The treaty, which could have become one of the most significant environmental agreements since the 2015 Paris Agreement, remains unresolved.

The fifth meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, was intended to produce a legally binding treaty. However, sharp divisions over the treaty's scope forced participants to defer key decisions and schedule additional negotiations, now referred to as INC-5.2.

"There is still persisting divergence," noted Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the U.N. Environment Program.

Key Disputes

Major disagreements centered on capping plastic production, managing chemicals in plastics, and providing financial support for developing countries to implement treaty measures. A proposal led by Panama, backed by over 100 nations, included a global target to reduce plastic production. Meanwhile, an opposing draft excluded such caps.

The revised document, shared on Sunday by meeting chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso, contained multiple unresolved options on contentious topics, highlighting the lack of consensus.

"A treaty relying only on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," said Juliet Kabera, Director General of Rwanda's Environment Management Authority. "We must negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not set up to fail."

Resistance was notably strong from petrochemical-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia, which used procedural tactics to delay negotiations. "There was never any consensus," said Saudi Arabian delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz, criticizing the inclusion of production caps.

Implications of Postponement

If successful, the treaty could have joined the ranks of transformative environmental agreements. However, the postponement underscores the complexity of addressing plastic pollution globally.

Plastic production is projected to triple by 2050, with microplastics already present in air, water, food, and even human breast milk. A 2023 U.N. report identified over 3,200 harmful chemicals in plastics, disproportionately affecting women and children.

Negotiators are aware of the urgency. "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.

The stalemate comes shortly after the contentious conclusion of the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where procedural tactics and disagreements over fossil fuel language further delayed progress.

The Path Ahead

The INC-5 talks underscore the challenges of navigating global consensus, especially within the U.N.'s consensus-based framework. Some participants, like Senegal's delegate Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla, criticized the absence of voting mechanisms to overcome impasses.

Chris Jahn, Secretary of the International Council of Chemical Associations, emphasized the complexity of the issue, stating, "This outcome highlights the need for further deliberations to craft an effective, inclusive, and workable treaty."

Despite the setbacks, there is a renewed push to reconvene negotiations. "When we meet again, the stakes will be even higher," Monterrey Gomez added.

Environmental advocates remain cautious, with groups like GAIA expressing skepticism about the likelihood of progress in future sessions. However, the urgency of the crisis ensures that the pursuit of a global solution will continue.