November 25, 2024 16:26

Today marks the start of the fifth and final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), convened by UNEP in Busan, South Korea.
The conference gathers representatives from 175 countries, along with NGOs, environmental organizations, and trade associations, aiming to establish a global treaty to mitigate the environmental impacts of plastic pollution caused by uncontrolled dispersal.

The final document is expected on December 1st, although significant disagreements remain unresolved.

The European Union seeks to conclude negotiations by the end of the year. Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefcovic, advocates for "globally coordinated policies to reform plastic production and consumption models for the benefit of people and the planet." Europe emphasizes the "polluter pays" principle, urging major producers to bear financial responsibility for plastic pollution, along with extended producer responsibility systems and enhanced waste management infrastructure.

Environmentalists demand a robust, legally binding treaty to globally limit plastic production at its source, including problematic products and potentially toxic substances.

At COP29, France, Kenya, and Barbados proposed a global tax of $60–$70 per ton of primary plastic produced, aiming to support environmental initiatives in developing countries.

The plastics industry, represented by trade associations, prefers an approach centered on product eco-design and waste recycling through producer responsibility systems. The industry rejects production limitations and source taxation, questioning the feasibility of a one-size-fits-all global solution that overlooks national specificities.

The photo depicts a Friends of the Earth demonstration in Busan.

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