Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations Adjourn in Busan, to Resume in 2025

Efforts to forge a global treaty to combat plastic pollution reached a temporary pause as negotiators wrapped up a week-long session in Busan, South Korea, early Monday. Despite significant progress, participants agreed more time is needed to address lingering disagreements before reconvening in 2025.

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), held from November 25, brought together over 3,300 attendees, including representatives from more than 170 countries and 440 observer organizations. Discussions revolved around creating a legally binding agreement to address the production, use, and disposal of plastics globally.

Delegates adopted a “Chair’s Text” proposed by INC Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador, which will guide future negotiations.

Commitment to Address Plastic Pollution
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasized the importance of the progress made while acknowledging the complexity of the task.

“The world’s commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable,” Andersen said during the closing remarks. She noted a greater convergence on the treaty’s structure and elements but stressed that critical areas of divergence require further discussion.

INC Chair Vayas echoed this sentiment, recognizing the ambitious nature of the mandate. “Ambition takes time to land. We have many of the elements that we need, and Busan has put us firmly on a pathway to success,” he stated.

Plastic Pollution: A Global Crisis
Plastic pollution continues to devastate ecosystems and endanger human health. Approximately 2,000 garbage trucks’ worth of plastic waste enter oceans, rivers, and lakes daily. Microplastics have been detected in food, water, soil, and even human organs, including the placenta of newborns.

The treaty under negotiation, mandated by a 2022 UN Environment Assembly resolution, aims to address the full lifecycle of plastics. Its goal is to curb the environmental and health risks associated with plastic pollution.

Looking Ahead
The INC will reconvene in 2025, with the venue yet to be determined. Delegates hope that ongoing dialogue and cooperation will bridge differences and lead to an effective treaty to tackle one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.