Plastics treaty talks end without agreement

Hosted in Busan, South Korea, the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) failed to deliver a legally binding deal, despite more than two years of negotiations taking place in the run up. The session featured over 3,300 delegates from over 170 countries. After running for a week, INC-5 adjourned with a ‘Chair’s Text’ that will act as the starting point for further negotiations in 2025.

“Through the Busan talks, negotiators have reached a greater degree of convergence on the structure and elements of the treaty text, as well as a better understanding of country positions and shared challenges,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“But it is clear there is persisting divergence in critical areas and more time is needed for these areas to be addressed."

According to the EU, INC-5 was defined by a clear divide between major oil-producing countries and the ‘High Ambition Coalition’, which includes the EU, the UK, Canada, as well as many African, Latin American and Pacific countries. The EU claimed the main points of divergence were a possible target of reducing the production of primary plastic polymers, bans and restrictions of chemicals of concern in plastic products, as well as problematic and avoidable plastic products.