Latest Caixin Weekly | Potential Source Restrictions on Plastic Production as Fifth Global Plastic Negotiations Heat Up (AI Translation)

最新财新周刊｜是否源头限制塑料生产 第五次全球塑料谈判烽火将燃

The Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) is scheduled to take place in Busan, South Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024. This session aims to develop an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution, following a historic resolution adopted by 175 countries in Nairobi in March 2022 during the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2). This resolution is considered one of the most significant multilateral environmental agreements since the Paris Agreement. The INC meetings intend to finalize negotiations by the end of 2024, but progress has been slow in addressing core issues, making it challenging to conclude on time. [para. 1][para. 3]

In the interim between INC-4 and INC-5, delegates established two expert groups to explore financing technologies and plastic chemicals. These groups met in Bangkok in August 2024. An informal meeting of delegation chiefs later took place in Nairobi to further refine negotiation strategies. This resulted in the creation of an 18-page informal document discussing 28 negotiation topics, aimed at serving as the basis for INC-5 negotiations. Greenpeace and other organizations noted the interconnectedness of various elements in this document, such as production reduction and fair transition considerations for economically weaker countries, highlighting the necessity for funding mechanisms. [para. 5][para. 7]

Despite several analyses and feedback from NGOs, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), stating that the informal document offers clarity, it lacks specificity and fails to ensure a robust and ambitious treaty. A third revised draft released in July 2024 was criticized for its complexity and lack of clarity. The negotiations at INC-5 will attempt to address vague governance goals, lifecycle plastic definitions, upstream production cuts, and strengthened endpoint controls. [para. 11][para. 13]

The discussions at INC-5 are expected to center on the entire lifecycle of plastics, with differing approaches from various factions. The High Ambition Coalition focuses on reducing plastic pollution at its source, advocating for upstream actions, such as production and consumption reduction within socio-economic systems, while others stress end-of-life waste management systems. Important debates will revolve around the regulation of primary plastic polymers and plastic chemicals. [para. 15][para. 21]

There is also contention over governance strategies, with some advocating for mandatory targets and others favoring self-determined contributions, similar to the Paris Agreement model. The influence of ongoing global political and electoral changes, like the U.S. presidential election and shifts within the EU, add complexity to the negotiations. The U.S. has signaled willingness to engage in treaty discussion, but recent political shifts could impact their stance. [para. 30][para. 40]

Amidst these negotiations, China has emphasized the need for multilateralism, respecting national autonomy, and collaborating for practical solutions to prevent plastic waste leakage into the environment. The recent Ninth Trilateral Summit, involving China, Japan, and South Korea, has also committed to reaching a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution at INC-5. The meeting in Busan represents a crucial opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together, negotiate, and potentially finalize a framework addressing the growing global plastic pollution challenge. [para. 43][para. 45]