What to recognize about the plastic pollution treaty talks in South Korea

A last round of negotiations on a legally binding treaty to address the global scourge of plastic pollution has opened in Busan, South Korea. Here’s what to recognize about it:

National delegations still have a lot to hammer out before there is a treaty. Most contentious is whether there will be a limit on the amount of plastic that companies are allowed to produce.

Led by Norway and Rwanda, 66 countries plus the European Union declare they desire to address the total plastic on Earth by controlling plastic design, production, consumption and what happens at the complete of its life.

Some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries, including Saudi Arabia, vigorously resist such limits.

Global plastics production is set to reach 736 million tons by 2040, up 70% from 2020, without policy changes, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and advancement.

Negotiators must also decide whether the treaty will reduce or eliminate single-use plastics. They’ll have to resolve whether to complete the use of hazardous chemicals in plastics and whether these steps will be mandated or merely encouraged.

Their ordinary objective is to protect human health and the surroundings.

There are some things many countries consent on. They desire provisions in a treaty to promote the redesign of plastic products so they can be recycled and reused. They desire to invest to better manage plastic waste. They desire to boost recycling rates and assist waste pickers shift to safer jobs. There is agreement that there needs to be a mechanism to assist countries pay for anything required of them.

Graham Forbes, who is leading a Greenpeace delegation in Busan, said his throng could back an agreement that puts sensible guardrails in place to reduce the amount of plastic produced, eliminates toxic chemicals and protects people from the uncontrolled use of plastics. That’s achievable, but will receive political leadership and courage not seen yet in earlier negotiations, he added.

Frankie Orona, executive director of the Texas-based population of Native Nations, said they demand a treaty that tackles the root causes of the crisis rather than just managing plastic waste.

“We must seize this instant and leave a legacy we can be proud of, with a non-toxic sustainable upcoming for all children and our children’s children,” he said.

Industry leaders desire an agreement that prevents plastic pollution by redesigning plastics to be reused, recycled and remade into recent products. They declare this will keep the materials in circulation and out of the surroundings.

business executives said they’ll back a treaty that recognizes plastics’ benefits to population, while ending pollution.

“I would despise to miss this chance because we get fixated on issues that divide us rather than unite us in this purpose of ultimately addressing the issue of plastic pollution,” said Steve Prusak, president and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical business. “It’s a really critical period. We’re really optimistic that what we get out of the meetings will navigator to practical, implementable policies and harmonization across the globe.”

U.N. surroundings Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the treaty talks are a historic chance to land an agreement and course-correct, something “entirely within our reach.”

“We can sit and wait and discuss and discuss and discuss. But meanwhile our oceans are chockablock with plastic,” she said.

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