Countries gathering in Busan, South Korea, this month aim to finalize a treaty to reduce global plastic pollution amid deep divisions over issues such as production cuts and funding.
Emma Bryce reports for Dialogue Earth.
In short:
- The fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting on plastic pollution will be held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 in Busan, where negotiators will attempt to finalize a legally binding treaty.
- Key issues include whether to limit plastic production and fund waste management, with some countries and industries opposing production cuts due to economic impacts.
- While nations like the U.S. have shown new support for production limits, disagreements over voting rules could prevent strong measures from making it into the final treaty.
Key quote:
“This treaty is going to be assessed on the extent to which the world begins to limit plastic production and consumption to sustainable levels.”
— Dennis Clare, legal adviser, Federated States of Micronesia
Why this matters:
Without global limits on plastic production, waste will continue to overwhelm ecosystems and harm wildlife and human health. The treaty outcome could shape future efforts to curb pollution by addressing both plastic creation and waste management.
