Despite high hopes, recent negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva ended in deadlock and disappointment. This setback highlighted the deep divisions among nations and casts uncertainty on efforts to curb the escalating plastic pollution crisis.
Here’s a breakdown of the key issues that led to the stalled negotiations:
1. Disagreements on the treaty’s scope and ambition
- Production Limits vs. Waste Management:Â A core contention lies in whether the treaty should address the entire lifecycle of plastics, including production caps and reduction targets, or focus primarily on waste management and recycling.
- The High Ambition Coalition, a group of over 100 nations including the European Union and several African and Latin American countries, pushed for a strong, legally binding treaty that includes targets for reducing plastic production and phasing out harmful chemicals used in plastics.
- The “Like-Minded Group,” consisting mainly of oil-producing states like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran, advocated for a narrower approach, emphasizing improved waste management and recycling over production cuts.
- The Influence of the Petrochemical Industry:Â The powerful petrochemical industry, which has strong ties to the oil-producing nations, actively lobbied against production limits, further intensifying the divisions during the talks.Â
2. Procedural roadblocks and lack of consensus
- Consensus Requirement:Â The UN negotiating process relies on reaching decisions by consensus, requiring near-unanimous agreement, which effectively gave a small number of countries the power to block the advancement of the treaty text.
- Failed Drafts: Two draft treaty texts presented by the negotiation chair were rejected by various parties, highlighting the inability to find common ground, according to The New York Times.
- Reluctance to Vote: Despite the stalemate, negotiators were hesitant to move towards a vote to resolve disagreements, a mechanism that could have potentially broken the deadlock but is seen as politically sensitive, says Down To Earth.Â
3. Entrenched positions and conflicting interests
- Economic Interests:Â Oil-producing nations emphasized the economic benefits of plastic production and resisted measures that could impact their industries.
- Health and Environmental Concerns:Â Many countries and environmental advocates highlighted the growing scientific evidence of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on human health and ecosystems, pushing for stronger protective measures.
- Developing Countries’ Concerns:Â Developing nations voiced concerns about the financial and technological support needed to transition towards more sustainable plastic management, arguing that a strong treaty must include provisions for technology transfer and financial assistance.
