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December 3, 2024 | 02:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Fifth Round of Negotiations (INC-5) for an International Treaty on Plastic Pollution concluded on December 2, 2024, in Busan, South Korea, without a definitive agreement. Despite high hopes and intense discussions, the meeting ended in a stalemate, failing to meet the ambitious goals set forth by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14 to end plastic pollution.
The Zero Waste Alliance Indonesia (AZWI) expressed deep disappointment with the outcome of INC-5. The organization had anticipated significant progress in addressing the global plastic crisis but was met with a lack of consensus and ambition.
INC Chair Luis Vayas proposed a draft text for the next round of negotiations, scheduled for next year. However, this draft has been criticized for its lack of concrete commitments to address the root causes of plastic pollution.
During the plenary session on December 1, the majority of negotiating members, 95 countries, including Mexico, advocated for the inclusion of global primary plastic reduction measures in Article 3 of the treaty. Additionally, 85 countries supported Rwanda's call for an ambitious agreement.
The INC-5 experience mirrors the challenges faced in international climate change negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, where powerful nations often prioritize their own interests over global environmental concerns.
The divisions among negotiating parties were stark, with major plastic-producing countries and industries on one side and vulnerable nations on the other. The former group has been reluctant to support measures that could significantly curtail plastic production and the use of harmful chemicals. Pressure from oil and gas countries also occurs outside the negotiation room.
Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority and Head of the Rwandan Delegation, delivered a powerful statement that resonated with delegates worldwide. She urged for serious action and a truly effective treaty, stating, “It is time for us to think seriously and negotiate something that is fit for purpose and not set to fail.”
Echoing Rwanda's call for decisive action, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Head of the Panamanian Delegation, emphasized that delaying negotiations would not halt the escalating plastic crisis.
Civil society observers shared this sentiment, viewing INC-5.2 as a crucial opportunity to strengthen the treaty's provisions. They aimed to ensure that the final agreement aligns with the mandate of UNEA Resolution 5/14 and addresses the full spectrum of plastic pollution, from production to disposal.
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