Global negotiations on the plastic agreement fail – what now?

Global negotiations on the plastic agreement fail – what now?

The fifth round of negotiations on a binding UN plastics agreement ended today in Busan, South Korea, without an agreement. This was a crucial opportunity that over 170 participating countries wanted to seize to take action against global plastic pollution. The agreements were intended as final solutions, but due to differences the debate will now continue next year. The main issue centers on the imposition of a cap on plastic production, demanded by a broad coalition of over 100 countries, including Mexico, Panama, Rwanda and the European Union.

In contrast, oil states such as Saudi Arabia and Russia had vehemently refused to accept such production limits. Instead, they advocated for the agreement to focus on efficient waste management. Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, a delegate from Panama, was emotional after the negotiations: “We did not achieve what we came for.” This was met with sustained applause and he stressed that hesitation “means death while action means survival.” Almost 200 UN states had already agreed in March 2022 to reach a joint decision by the end of 2024 to reduce annual plastic waste production worldwide by around 400 million tons.

Outlook for future negotiations

Current developments show how difficult it is to find uniform solutions to this enormous challenge. As time runs out to combat the devastating consequences of plastic pollution, continued discussion next year could be crucial for the future of global plastic policy. The goal of adopting binding measures to curb plastic remains on the agenda despite the setbacks, as preparations for the agreement have been underway for almost a decade. The international community is therefore faced with the challenge of finding a way to reconcile the different interests of states and take effective measures to reduce plastic waste.