Global Plastics Treaty: Slow Progress, Key Challenges

The Global Plastics Treaty aims to tackle plastic pollution worldwide, but faces slow progress and key challenges:

• 175 countries agreed to create a binding treaty by late 2024
• Covers plastic production, use, and disposal
• Main goals: reduce production, ban harmful chemicals, set recycling targets
• Key challenges:

Despite obstacles, the treaty represents a major opportunity to address plastic pollution globally. Success hinges on balancing diverse interests and finding common ground in upcoming talks.

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1. Negotiation Rounds

Progress

The Global Plastics Treaty talks have moved slowly but steadily. The fourth round (INC-4) happened in Ottawa from April 23-29, 2024. This was the second-to-last of five planned rounds to write a binding treaty to tackle global plastic waste.

Key points from the talks:

• Talked about the updated Zero Draft at INC-4
• Set up two groups to work on treaty wording between meetings
• Added "Ghost gear" (lost fishing equipment) to ocean talks for the first time

Different Views

The talks showed that groups have different ideas:

Problems

The talks faced several issues:

1. Disagreement on how to vote
2. Oil countries vs. countries wanting less plastic pollution
3. Oil and gas companies trying to sway talks
4. Debate: Should rules be required or optional?
5. How to cut pollution while getting everyone to agree

Despite these problems, the talks are moving towards a final treaty. The goal is to have a plastic pollution treaty by 2025. The last treaty meeting is set for late November in Busan, South Korea.

2. Key Stakeholders

Stakeholder Positions

Different groups have different views on the Global Plastics Treaty:

Green groups like Greenpeace want the treaty to cut how much plastic is made. They think the talks are too slow and weak.

Oil-making countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia don't want rules on making plastic. They worry it will hurt their money-making.

Big companies like Unilever want clear rules for all parts of plastic use, from making to throwing away.

Problems

The talks face these big issues:

1. Companies trying to change the rules
2. Countries wanting different things
3. Native peoples not being heard enough
4. Disagreement on what the treaty should cover
5. Making rules strong but getting everyone to agree

These problems show how hard it is to get everyone to agree on plastic rules.

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3. Major Challenges

Progress

The talks for the global plastics treaty have been slow:

• After INC-3 in November 2023, they only had a "zero draft" with options for the treaty
• No formal talks happened between INC-3 and INC-4
• The last round in Kenya ended with no agreement

Different Views

Groups have different ideas about the treaty:

Problems

1. What to include: Countries can't agree on what the treaty should cover

2. Making vs. cleaning up: Some want to make less plastic, others just want to clean up

3. Big companies: Plastic makers are trying to make the rules weaker

4. Money worries: Countries that make oil and gas don't want rules that hurt their business

5. Hard to agree: It's tough to get 170+ countries to agree on rules

These problems show why it's hard to make a treaty that fixes plastic pollution and makes everyone happy.

Good and Bad Points

The global plastics treaty talks have shown both good and bad sides. Let's look at the main points:

The treaty could help stop plastic pollution and make people healthier. It might mean using less oil and fewer bad chemicals. Big companies support it because they know plastic waste hurts their image.

But the talks are slow, and countries can't agree on what to do. Some want to focus on cleaning up trash, while others want to change how we make and use plastic. Oil companies and countries that make oil don't want strict rules. They prefer to talk about recycling instead of making less plastic.

Green groups want strong rules that limit plastic making. But oil companies have a lot of power and might weaken the rules. It's also hard to get more than 170 countries to agree on anything.

Even with these problems, the treaty is a big chance to protect our planet from plastic. Countries have agreed to write a draft, which is a good start. But how well they deal with these issues in future talks will decide how good the final treaty is.

Wrap-up

The Global Plastics Treaty is a big step in fighting plastic pollution worldwide. 175 countries have agreed to work on it, but progress is slow. Here are the main challenges:

1. Time vs. Complexity

2. Making Less vs. Recycling More

3. Must-Do vs. Can-Do Rules

Most countries want strong rules, but some prefer softer goals.

4. Business Interests

Even with these problems, the treaty is a big chance to help the environment. Success depends on how well countries can work together and find common ground in the talks ahead.

FAQs

What is global plastic treaty?

The Global Plastics Treaty is a big plan to fight plastic pollution worldwide. Here's what you need to know:

The treaty wants to:

• Make less unnecessary plastic
• Stop wasteful uses
• Ban some harmful chemicals
• Set high recycling goals

This agreement is as big as the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. It could really help protect our planet and make things better for everyone.

The treaty looks at plastic from start to finish. It's trying to fix the whole problem, not just parts of it. This makes it different from other plans that only focus on one area, like cleaning up trash.

Many countries and big companies support the treaty. They know plastic waste is a big problem that needs fixing. But some groups, like oil companies, don't want strict rules. This makes it hard to agree on what to do.

Even though it's tough, the treaty is a big chance to make real changes. How well countries work together will decide if it succeeds in stopping plastic pollution.

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• Reducing Plastic in the Ocean: Policy Impact
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