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China Proposes U.N. Plastic Pollution Treaty ‘Respect Nations’ Circumstances’

Published: Nov. 27, 2024 8:27 p.m. GMT+8

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A sculpture of a fish made out of plastic garbage sits at the Marine Protected Area in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in March 2022. Photo: VCG

As delegates from over 170 countries gather in Busan, South Korea this week for the final round of talks to establish a global plastic treaty, China has proposed that the agreement accommodate countries’ different circumstances and explore a phased approach, while expressing its commitment to achieving an “ambitious and practical” framework to end plastic pollution.

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Over 170 countries are meeting in Busan, South Korea, to negotiate a global plastic treaty, with China advocating for phased approaches and support for developing nations.
Key negotiation issues include plastic lifecycle definitions and governance structures, with debates on whether to implement mandatory global targets or allow flexible national contributions.
China's efforts align with previous commitments, such as the 2023 U.S.-China pledge to tackle plastic pollution, and ongoing trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea on a binding treaty.

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Who’s Who

Greenovation Hub: Greenovation Hub is a Beijing-based environmental think tank. Xu Jiayi, the project director at Greenovation Hub, commented on the strategic balance of the global plastic treaty negotiations, emphasizing the need for broad participation and acknowledging the complex and intertwined interests among countries.

Greenpeace East Asia: Greenpeace East Asia, represented by global policy advisor Yao Zhe, believes a binding approach in the global plastic treaty is ideal. However, Yao notes that achieving this amid the current international political climate may be challenging. Thus, Greenpeace supports the establishment of strong international commitments despite these hurdles in the negotiation process.

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What Happened When

In 2022：: The United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.

In 2023：: China and the U.S. stated their determination to end plastic pollution via the Sunnylands Statement.

By May 2024：: A trilateral meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea took place, where they pledged to work toward achieving a global legally binding treaty at the Busan meeting.

November 25, 2024：: The Chinese delegation emphasized that the focus of the talks should be on preventing plastic waste leakage during the general debate in Busan.