On November 25, 2024, representatives from approximately 175 countries convened in Busan, South Korea, for the final round of negotiations aimed at establishing a binding global agreement to address the escalating plastic waste crisis. This initiative follows two years of discussions and aims to reconcile significant differences among nations regarding plastic waste management.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has indicated that such a treaty could represent the most significant multilateral environmental agreement since the Paris Climate Accord in 2015. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen described the agreement as a "insurance policy for current and future generations" to coexist with plastic rather than succumb to its impacts.
In 2019, approximately 350 million tons of plastic waste were produced globally, with only nine percent recycled, while the remainder was incinerated, sent to landfills, or released into the environment. Durable plastic products can persist in ecosystems for hundreds of years, contaminating food chains and environments. The production of plastic, primarily derived from fossil fuels, exacerbates the climate crisis.
Environmental advocates are urging nations to reduce global plastic production by 40 percent by 2040, a proposal initially put forth by Rwanda and Peru during previous negotiations in Ottawa. This reduction could be achieved through various measures targeting the entire lifecycle of plastics, including cutting down production, eliminating toxic single-use plastics, and redesigning packaging to be reusable, biodegradable, and fully recyclable.
While multinational companies promote enhanced recycling as a solution to the plastic crisis, groups like Greenpeace argue that the focus should shift toward significantly reducing plastic production. Current forecasts suggest that plastic production could triple by 2050, driven by cheaper new plastic manufacturing compared to recycling, particularly due to an oversupply of fracking gas in the U.S.
The fossil fuel industry is also expanding its production of new plastics as a growth market to compensate for losses incurred from the energy transition. Experts contend that a 40 percent reduction in plastic production by 2040 may not be sufficient to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement, advocating instead for a 75 percent decrease.
A report commissioned by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) emphasizes that achieving a 40 percent reduction in plastic production would only significantly lower CO2 emissions if accompanied by a rise in global recycling rates to 63 percent. Furthermore, the plastic sector would need to decarbonize through renewable energy sources and peak production by 2025.
As the deadline for negotiations approaches, countries remain divided on the extent of the proposed regulations. Over 60 nations have joined a "High Ambition Coalition," led by Rwanda and Norway, advocating for a complete halt to plastic production by 2040. However, certain countries, particularly oil-producing nations like Iran, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, are resistant to production cuts and favor increased recycling efforts to sustain future fossil fuel markets.
During the latest round of negotiations, U.S. support for a plastic reduction target shifted, although potential changes in government could alter this stance. Countries from the Global South and EU member states continue to push for a binding agreement, emphasizing the need to eliminate harmful chemicals and reduce plastic production.
Despite the possibility of no agreement being reached in Busan, advocates stress the importance of reflecting the global demand for a binding treaty in the negotiations.