December 2, 2024
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Talks on the Global Plastic Pollution Treaty have failed
The summit, which many had hoped would deliver a landmark pact to tackle the global plastic pollution crisis, ended in disappointment after oil and gas-producing countries pushed back on curbing production.
Pictured is part of Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong’s 5 meter long art installation “PerpetualPlastic Machine”.
Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images
KLIMAWIRE | BUSAN, South Korea – Members of the United Nations wanted to use this past week to discuss how to end plastic pollution. Instead, they return empty-handed to their homes from the coastal South Korean city of Busan.
The talks broke down late Sunday after negotiators failed to resolve their differences and agree on a global deal. plastic contract. At the heart of the disagreement was the refusal of the oil-rich nations, led by Saudi Arabia, to accept an agreement that places limits on plastic production.
In his speech, EU negotiator Hugo Schally expressed “the regret of many in the room that it did not happen, despite the tireless efforts of many of us, who worked until the wee hours of the morning among many stakeholders to achieve a successful outcome”. to the last plenary session.
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The Busan summit was billed as the culmination of two years of talks, with UN countries previously agreeing to “formulate an internationally binding agreement by 2024”. Greenpeace he called her “The most important multilateral agreement” since the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
But in the end, the differences were irreconcilable among those who wanted a comprehensive agreement between these countries. the plastic pollution crisis Countries whose production and economy depend on the continued demand for ubiquitous fossil fuel-based materials.
The stakes are high. Plastic waste is pouring into the world’s oceans at the pace around 10 million tons per year and rising, threatening marine biodiversity. Global emissions from plastic production could triple and account for a fifth of the earth’s remaining carbon budget by 2050, according to one. to analyze. Microplastics, on the other hand, are penetrating everything brain tissue to mother’s milk. good current routesplastic production could almost triple by 2050.
“Although it is gratifying to have agreed on parts of the text, we have to admit that some critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement,” said the president who heads the negotiations – Ecuadorian diplomat Luis Vayas – and suggested that they be suspended. messy discussion until later.
The blame game
The EU, along with more than 100 other countries including the UK, backed a new proposal on Thursday. Head of Panama push for a global goal to reduce plastic production to “sustainable levels”. drawing a clear battle line for conferences
But three negotiators from the countries Ambitious Coalition to End Plastic Pollution — who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks — told POLITICO that Saudi Arabia coordinated a push by oil-rich, plastic-producing countries to block any treaty proposal that threatened to curb plastic production. Most plastic is made from petroleum or natural gas.
In almost every round of talks in the last two years, these countries – which also include Iran and Russia – have been present. accused causing delays and hindering the progress of negotiations.
Saudi and Russian negotiators declined multiple requests for comment when approached by POLITICO in Busan.
“We’re… concerned a constant obstacle so-called like-minded countries; and we know without a doubt that it may be a minority, but still we must all be together to advance (the talks) as much as we can,” said French Energy Minister Olga Givernet at a press conference early Sunday.
Saudi Arabia and its pro-plastic allies have refused to accept blame.
“We started with some honesty and sincerity in the real discussions,” Iran’s representative said last week, denouncing the “discriminatory” and “selective approaches to issues and discussions” of other countries.
Along with the disagreements over the production of plastics, the countries also could not agree on how to target which plastic products are particularly polluting, and how to finance the treaty.
‘Fool then, fool now’
Two of the “ambitious” negotiators mentioned above suggested that the talks were doomed from the start, arguing that there would never be enough time given the scope of the mandate.
“I think the pressure to deliver that in 18 months … was stupid then, and it’s stupid now,” said one. “Usually these processes take years, beyond what we’re doing.”
The “ambitious” delegates hoped for more support from major plastic producers China and the US
China, the world’s largest producer of plastics, has been seen in some quarters as a constructive partner in the ambitious coalition. It has he contributed to the debate on targeting the most polluting plastic products.
But Beijing is much less eager to touch production levels. And again in the US this summer he dropped the weight behind the reduction of plastic production, some see the country this way throwing it back After the recent election victory of Donald Trump.
But many observers and delegates said the collapse of the summit demonstrated the failure of consensus-based environmental multilateralism, arguing that requiring all countries to agree by consensus gave unwilling nations too much veto power. Non-governmental organizations such as the Center for International Environmental Law hope that last week’s failed talks will be a lesson for future UN talks.
“What we saw in Busan was the weaponization of consensus by a few countries to stall progress and undermine negotiations,” said David Azoulay, director of environmental health at CIEL. “At the next session, countries must make it clear once and for all that they are ready to use all options, including voting, to deliver the treaty they affirm is necessary.”
However, many countries and NGOs were waiting for a treaty to be reached.
“Let’s be ruthless,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, head of the Panamanian delegation, in the last plenary session. “They may have delayed us, but they won’t stop us.”
The date and time of the next round of interviews is yet to be announced.
Reprinted E&E News Courtesy of POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environmental professionals.
