The fifth session of negotiations on a historic, legally binding global plastic pollution treaty concluded on Sunday, with countries agreeing to reconvene in 2025. The session, held from November 25 to December 3, was hosted by the government of the Republic of Korea and attracted more than 3,300 participants, including delegates from over 170 countries and representatives from 440 observer organizations.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) builds on earlier talks in Punta del Este, Paris, Nairobi, and Ottawa. Although no final agreement was reached during the Busan session, the negotiating committee achieved notable progress by agreeing on a draft text that will serve as the basis for upcoming discussions. The negotiations will resume in 2025, aiming to finalize a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution.
At the closing of the recent session in Busan, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UNEP, emphasized the global commitment to addressing plastic pollution. “The world’s commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable. Here in Busan, talks have moved us closer to agreeing on a global legally binding treaty that will protect our health, our environment, and our future from the onslaught of plastic pollution,” she stated.
The treaty process was initiated following Resolution 5/14 adopted in March 2022, which called for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. This resolution requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop the treaty. The treaty is designed to take a comprehensive approach to addressing the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design, disposal, and the reduction of global plastic waste, particularly in marine environments. Negotiations were initially planned to conclude by the end of 2024.
As preparations for a new round of talks continue, the EU urged nations obstructing the deal to demonstrate more ambition. With more than half of global plastic waste still being landfilled and less than one-fifth recycled, a prompt and unified global response is vital. The OECD projects that by 2060, nearly two-thirds of plastic waste will consist of short-lived items, such as packaging, low-cost products, and textiles, exacerbating the environmental crisis. A significant majority of over 100 countries have endorsed the EU’s ambitious objectives, with support continuing to grow.
The plastic pollution crisis remains urgent, with 2,000 garbage trucks of plastic waste entering oceans, rivers, and lakes daily. Annually, 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic pollute aquatic ecosystems, threatening biodiversity and marine habitats.
