Busan Summit
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Environment
Source: DD News
Context: The fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty concluded in Busan, South Korea, without achieving consensus on a legally binding framework to eliminate plastic pollution.
Busan INC-5:
• Objective: Establish a legally binding global treaty to address plastic pollution across its life cycle.
• Participants: 170 nations, under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Timeline: INC meetings began in 2022, with INC-5 held in November 2024 as the “final” scheduled session.
• Outcome: No consensus; negotiations extended to a probable INC-5.2 session in 2025.
Need for a Plastic Treaty in the World:
• Escalating Plastic Production: Global plastic production doubled from 234 million tonnes (2000) to 460 million tonnes (2019).
• Low Recycling Rates: Only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled.
• Marine Pollution: Over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enter oceans annually.
• Environmental Impact: Microplastics found in air, water, and human bodies; projected to triple plastic production by 2050.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Plastics contribute 3.4% of global emissions.
Key Features in the Draft of Busan INC-5 Summit:
• Global Targets for Plastic Reduction: Proposed capping virgin plastic production and reducing harmful plastic products and chemicals.
• Life-Cycle Approach: Addressed plastic pollution from production to disposal, emphasizing extended producer responsibility (EPR).
• Phasing Out Harmful Plastics: Suggested gradual elimination of specific single-use plastics and microplastics contributing to marine pollution.
• Financial Mechanisms: Called for a multilateral fund for technology transfer and compensation to developing countries.
• Chemical Management: Proposed regulation of over 3,000 toxic chemicals in plastics, prioritizing vulnerable populations like women and children.
• Monitoring and Accountability: Included frameworks for tracking plastic pollution and ensuring compliance through transparent reporting.
• Flexibility for Nations: Allowed countries to design implementation strategies respecting their developmental and economic contexts.
• Stakeholder Inclusion: Emphasized participation from private sectors, civil society, and indigenous groups in treaty implementation.
Reasons Behind Busan INC-5 Failure:
• Divided Stance on Plastic Production: Oil-dependent nations like Saudi Arabia opposed capping virgin plastic production, while over 100 countries, including Pacific Island nations, demanded ambitious cuts.
E.g., Pacific countries face marine pollution challenges and sought strict production limits.
• Lack of Consensus on Treaty Scope: Delegates could not agree on whether to focus on reducing production or managing waste.
E.g., Panama-backed proposals targeted production cuts, but alternative views excluded such measures.
• Procedural Challenges: Consensus-based decision-making allowed a few nations to stall progress, avoiding binding commitments.
E.g., Saudi Arabia used procedural tactics to delay discussions.
• Undefined Terminologies: Key terms like “plastic” and “control measures” remained ambiguous, complicating negotiations.
E.g., The lack of clarity on plastic types hindered setting universal standards.
• Economic Priorities of Developing Nations: Countries like India emphasized the need for financial aid and technology transfer to manage plastic control costs.
E.g., India proposed a multilateral fund to ensure equitable transition.
India’s Role in INC-5:
· Position: Opposed production caps, emphasizing development rights and national circumstances.
· Proposal: Called for technology transfer, financial compensation, and a multilateral fund for a “just transition.”
· Plastic Management: Despite banning several single-use plastics, struggles to control waste persist.
Way Ahead:
• Clarify Definitions: Establish clear and universally accepted terms in treaty discussions.
• Strengthen Negotiations: Transition from consensus to majority voting for smoother decision-making.
• Financial Mechanisms: Develop equitable financing models for developing nations to adopt sustainable practices.
• Global Collaboration: Enhance cooperation among nations to reduce plastic production and promote alternatives.
• Regional Agreements: Encourage regional initiatives as interim solutions while global consensus builds.
Conclusion:
The Busan INC-5 underscores the urgent need for a unified approach to combat plastic pollution. While global consensus remains elusive, sustained dialogue and regional cooperation can pave the way for an ambitious and binding treaty to protect the planet from the mounting plastic crisis.
Insta Links:
• Menace-of-microplastic
• What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid waste which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (UPSC-2018)