Examining the Plastics Treaty Negotiations
Newsletter Edition #244 [The Files In-Depth]
Hi,
In forum after forum, economic and commercial interests override public interest even when threats are existential. While evidence fights for survival in an increasingly post-truth world, what we are witnessing is cold-blooded commercial calculations standing in the way of any multilateral approach to solving complex crises such as climate change.
The unfolding story of the “Plastics Treaty” encapsulates how short-termism dictated by the economics of production has dominated efforts to address the grave implications of plastics, not just for humans, but also the health of the planet.
In this edition, we take a close look at the negotiations towards a Plastics Treaty, discussions that collapsed in December 2024.
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I. ANALYSIS
Examining the Plastics Treaty Negotiations
By Priti Patnaik & Yukta N
The expectations were high. What some refer to, as the most important multilateral treaty since the 2015 Paris climate agreement, negotiations on the Plastics Treaty collapsed late last year, in the concluding days of what was supposed to be a final round of talks to reach an agreement.
The negotiations towards a Plastics Treaty with potentially binding obligations committing to curbing new production, phasing out harmful chemicals, and tackling waste, unravelled in Busan, Korea in early December 2024. Broadly, countries are divided on curbing new production, phasing out harmful chemicals, and those that favour an approach of managing wastes.
Oil-producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and other Gulf States, reportedly did not agree to proposals that were supported by 100+ countries that sought to limit new production. Led by Panama, more than 100 countries including the EU and the UK, pushed for cutting plastic production that would have required countries to share numbers on production and trade. The oil producers have maintained that setting production limits is beyond the mandate of the treaty.
The negotiations that were held during 25 November to 1 December 2024, were part of the fifth round of talks under the aegis of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Countries have been negotiating following the 2022 UN Environment Assembly resolution to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
An update from UN states that “Agreement on three pivotal areas needs to be ironed: plastic products, including the issue of chemicals; sustainable production and consumption; and financing.” There is no information yet on the next round of the negotiations.
Apart from directly contributing to the climate crises, the use of plastics has deep implications for overall planetary health. Majority of the plastics produced are derived from fossil fuels. At current rates, the production of plastics is estimated to account for 20% of global oil demand. Therefore, production cuts for plastics are critical to address the climate crises.
The impact on health is as existential, with the ubiquitous presence of plastics in food chains, oceans, air, water and soil. Microplastics have also been detected in human blood.
In this story we look at the issues at stake and its relevance for global health.
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