Negotiations for a forthcoming global treaty to combat the escalating crisis of plastic pollution stretched beyond schedule into Tuesday morning, marked by heated debates over whether there should be constraints on plastic production. As the week-long discussions in Ottawa concluded before dawn, nations agreed to continue their deliberations in ad hoc meetings leading up to the final summit scheduled to commence on November 25 in Busan, South Korea. This ongoing work will involve exploring funding options to assist developing nations in implementing the treaty. Countries also agreed to develop a process for identifying hazardous plastic chemicals and wasteful plastic products, such as single-use containers. However, they did not establish formal procedures to assess the sustainability of virgin plastic production or to define what quantities might be considered unsustainable.
The anticipated treaty, expected to be finalized in Busan, could be the most significant agreement on climate-warming emissions and environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Sivendra Michael, lead negotiator for Fiji, described this progress as a "small step on a very long path," stressing the urgency of delivering on the promise to reduce plastic pollution within the remaining seven months.
More than 50 countries supported a proposal by Rwanda and Peru to evaluate a sustainable level for plastic production. Despite objections from some parties, a group of 28 countries pledged to pursue the treaty with production caps. Christophe Bechu, France's minister for ecological transition, highlighted the necessity of addressing unsustainable levels of plastic production to combat global plastic pollution, citing clear scientific evidence.
Efforts to restrict production encountered resistance from petrochemical-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and China, as well as industry groups lobbying in Ottawa. They suggested focusing on less contentious topics like waste management and product design instead. China's lead negotiator, Yang Xiaoling, proposed scaling back ambitions to reach a consensus on the treaty later this year.
Environmental groups cautioned against excessive compromises that could weaken the treaty's effectiveness. Some welcomed the focus on issues like harmful chemicals, emphasizing the health risks associated with plastics and toxic chemicals. Meanwhile, as the Ottawa talks unfolded, the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in the same province declared a state of emergency due to a release of cancer-causing benzene from an industrial facility, underscoring the pressing need for action addressed in the negotiations.