By: Doreen Ampofo
International negotiations for a plastics treaty ongoing in Geneva hit a snag after the majority of participating countries described the draft proposal as unacceptable. The draft treaty which is being considered at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on the Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva aims to end plastic pollution by developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
This resolution, adopted in March 2022, provides for negotiations toward a treaty that would address the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal. It is on this basis that the negotiations were convened.
The biggest issue at the negotiations in Geneva has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things like better design, recycling and reuse. About two-thirds of the countries want ambitious actions that limit the production of plastics as well as tackle cleanup and recycling. Many have said it is essential to address toxic chemicals.
Ghana, Kenya and the EU described the draft as very disappointing and unacceptable at this stage. This follows similar statements from several Latin American countries. Ghana indicated that the draft is a setback that does not take into account the work of science. A vast majority of African countries support a more ambitious proposal, following the lead of countries such as Ghana and Kenya.
Powerful oil and gas-producing nations such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Russia and the Pacific countries as well as the plastics industry supported the proposed text and opposed production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse.
The draft contains one mention of plastic production in the preamble, reaffirming the importance of promoting sustainable production and consumption of plastics. It is however silent on chemicals.
The new provisions seek to reduce the number of problematic plastic products that often enter the environment and are difficult to recycle and promote the redesign of plastic products, so that they can be recycled and reused. This will mean that parties to the treaty would improve their waste management.
France has requested that the agreement be adopted if 120 countries agree on the document, in order to avoid waiting years before having an international instrument.
Chair of the negotiating committee, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, noted he wrote the draft based on the views expressed by nations over the course of the negotiations. He added that he did it to move them closer to a legally-binding instrument, which can be shaped and improved.
With little time left, he said, it’s time to build bridges, not dig in over red lines.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso convened a meeting with the heads of delegations to work on a new draft which could change significantly. A new version is expected Thursday August 14, the last scheduled day of the negotiations which began on August 5.
