The fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), aimed at developing a global treaty to end plastic pollution, concluded in Busan, Republic of Korea, on December 1, 2024, without a deal. Despite being slated as the final session, negotiators from over 170 countries remained gridlocked late on the final day, failing to agree on including measures to reduce plastic production.
Despite not meeting the aspirational timeframe, negotiations will continue next year. Ambitious countries and observers feel that prioritizing a strong treaty is more valuable than settling for a weak agreement now, unlike the industry’s preference for voluntary commitments that exclude plastic production.
As in the previous four sessions, progress at INC-5 was obstructed by fossil fuel and plastics industry influence, compounded by the exclusion of rightsholders disproportionately impacted by plastic pollution. Frontline allies, Indigenous Peoples, and nonprofit organizations were once again sidelined. Observers faced restricted access, with many negotiations held behind closed doors and some civil society members even removed from overcrowded rooms.
Amid these roadblocks, demonstrations for a strong treaty throughout the week by civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and ambitious delegates reinforced the urgency of reaching a meaningful and binding agreement. These efforts highlighted the stark divide between a majority pushing for ambition and a minority of nations stalling on key issues such as production caps, toxic chemical regulation, and an equitable financial mechanism to support Global South nations disproportionately affected by the plastics crisis.
Ambition Grows for Turning Off the Tap
Despite pressure from a handful of petrostates, the majority of countries are rallying together for a strong treaty, with more than 100 countries backing Panama’s proposal to reduce plastic production, 95 supporting legally binding targets to regulate harmful chemicals, and over 120 nations calling for a treaty with robust implementation measures.
In a powerful show of solidarity, Rwanda, speaking on behalf of 85 countries during the closing plenary, brought hundreds of government delegates and observers to their feet with a rallying call to “stand up for ambition.” Throughout the week, civil society representatives urged country government delegates to demonstrate “courage, not compromise,” and ultimately, high-ambition nations rejected a weak treaty proposal that failed to address the root causes of plastic pollution.
This INC also saw a record-breaking turnout—3,300 delegates total—representing governments and observers, reflecting the treaty’s growing importance on the global stage.
Plastic pollution is far beyond a single-issue concern—it represents a truly global human health, social justice, environmental, climate, and wildlife crisis, and several governments recognized this urgency, making inspiring statements that revitalized the talks and kept momentum going.
Fossil Fuel Interests Loom Large
Representatives of the fossil fuel, chemical, and plastics industries once again overwhelmed the treaty talks. According to an estimate by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), 220 lobbyists attended INC-5, surpassing their presence at previous sessions and far exceeding the presence of scientists and Indigenous Peoples. Notably, 17 lobbyists were embedded within national delegations.
Industry knows this treaty could chart our future with fossil fuels and toxic chemicals, and thus seeks to greenwash and disrupt its way towards a weak outcome. After days of exclusion from the plenaries and petrostate efforts to stifle their voices, a protest by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics forced a rare opportunity for observers to take the mic.
Petrostate influence also enabled a small group of countries to stall progress on critical measures needed to address the harms of plastic pollution on frontline communities. As it stands, the draft text lacks a listing of chemicals of concern and includes numerous brackets and conflicting options, creating uncertainty about whether the articles will result in legally binding measures or voluntary commitments.
To counteract industry influence, members of Indigenous communities, frontline communities, scientists, and allies continually expressed the environmental justice impacts of plastic pollution starting from fossil fuel extraction to end pollution. Greenpeace activists boarded a petrochemical tanker in protest, calling for cuts to plastic production.
Take Action
INC-5.2 will take place in 2025, at a time and place yet to be determined. Leading up to this critical moment, we anticipate heightened industry interference and efforts from low-ambition countries to stall progress. However, Busan showed that a growing coalition of countries are willing to be courageous and tell the world to get on board with a strong treaty or to step aside. The energy and momentum are building to deliver a historic, global agreement.
Source: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/
