BUSAN, Republic of Korea (December 1, 2024) - Following a fierce ultimatum by over 80 countries at INC-5 that they will not accept a global plastic pollution treaty that excludes strong and ambitious measures, such as global bans on the most harmful plastics and chemicals, the Chair's latest draft text finally includes such measures but the text includes a lot of options that still need to be negotiated. This is where countries should have been earlier in the negotiations, but it nevertheless marks a constructive turning point in enabling the creation of a strong and ambitious global plastic pollution treaty in the negotiations' last hours.
All countries must now heed the rallying call of the ambitious and step up.
Commenting on the INC-5 Chair's latest draft text, Erin Simon, Vice President & Head of Plastic Pollution & Waste, WWF, said: "Progress not perfection, is what we're currently seeing from the latest draft of the treaty text. The majority of Member states have been successful in finally drowning out a vocal minority, and the text is starting to reflect this shift. Now is not the time to back off on ambition but to push forward to ensure the elements that are still missing can find their way into the final draft.
With the pressure on, key components of the treaty are showing improvement over previous drafts. The transition to binding measures around product design is promising and an appetite for including a global list of chemicals and products of concern to eliminate has emerged, but there has not been a meaningful change in the binding nature of the article as a whole.
While this is progress - we need to keep the pressure on for the rest of the day, we are still far apart on a financial mechanism to support the transition and it seems as if countries have not yet learned that consensus will limit their ability to strengthen the instrument moving forward. What is clear however, is that we are finally seeing the text reflect key elements we need. Now the majority of countries need to bring this to a close by making them strong enough to deliver on a treaty that could end plastic pollution."
And Eirik Lindebjerg, Global Plastics Policy Lead, WWF, said: "While there are still many gaps, the new draft finally includes some essential elements that have been missing throughout these negotiations. The majority of countries have been calling for the measures that will have the biggest impact to address this crisis, including binding global bans and phase outs of harmful products and chemicals. And today, we finally have a draft that is starting to reflect that ambition.
But in itself, it is meaningless as these measures are listed as options alongside weak and ineffective alternatives. Unless the majority countries are willing to stand up for the most effective version of these measures, this treaty will fail to protect and save the lives of countless citizens. The coalition of the willing cannot take their foot off the pedal and must keep the pressure on to ensure the final treaty text includes the most impactful measures.
If countries are not able to agree to a ban on the most harmful plastic products and chemicals, the further we get from ensuring a safe and habitable planet for current and future generations."
