UN Plastic Pollution Summit Fails to Reach Agreement
Mexico, representing a majority group of 95 countries, stated they would not accept a treaty without such binding global measures.
BUSAN, South Korea- The United Nations summit on plastic pollution failed to reach a final agreement despite widespread support for ambitious measures, according to environmental group WWF, writes Winston Mwale.
The majority of countries attending the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting in Busan this week backed strong action, including global bans and phase-outs of harmful plastics and chemicals.
"Almost all countries stood up and applauded Rwanda's lead negotiator, Juliet Kabera's call on countries during the final INC-5 plenary to symbolically show their support for a globally binding and ambitious plastic pollution treaty that extends over plastics' entire lifecycle," WWF said in a statement.
Mexico, representing a majority group of 95 countries, stated they would not accept a treaty without such binding global measures.
However, WWF expressed disappointment that the meeting closed without an agreement.
"For too long, a small minority of states have held the negotiation process hostage," said Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF's Global Plastics Policy Lead.
"It is unjust that those who bear the greatest burden of plastic pollution are being denied the opportunity to forge a solution among themselves by those profiteering off the unregulated production and consumption of plastic."
Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste and business at WWF, added: "It's disheartening to walk away from INC-5 without a meaningful treaty in hand. Allowing a minority of actors to obstruct progress through the week, predictably resulted in breaking the promise made at the beginning of these talks."
WWF called on countries to unite around the necessary binding upstream measures to end plastic pollution, develop lists of products and chemicals to be banned, and conclude the negotiation process as soon as possible.
The global environmental group warned that inaction puts both planetary and human health at risk, and urged countries to come to the table ready to fight for the future in the next round of negotiations.