short information, 12. December 2024

No agreement, but a step forward

Summary of the negotiations on the UN Global Plastics Treaty

The 5th round of negotiations (INC-5) for a Global Plastics Treaty within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ended in Busan (South Korea) at the beginning of December. Delegates from more than 150 countries as well as stakeholders from industry, civil society and science came together to end plastic pollution, which harms the environment and human health as well as biodiversity and the climate. Although no final agreement was reached on a globally applicable set of rules, the results are an important step forward. This is the conclusion drawn by environmental chemist Prof Dr Annika Jahnke and ecotoxicologist Dr Dana Kühnel from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), who were present in Busan. Annika Jahnke supported the German delegation, Dana Kühnel was on site for the 'Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty’.

The global set of rules aims to take into account the entire life cycle of plastics, from resource extraction, production and design through to disposal and recycling. The week-long negotiations, which took place in plenary sessions, smaller contact groups and informal discussions without observers, focused on four key areas: 1) production of plastics and use of chemicals of concern; 2) waste management, emissions and pollution from plastics; 3) mechanisms for implementation, compliance and monitoring of possible measures; 4) issues of financing, technology transfer and international cooperation. 

Delays, not defeat

Ambitious countries, including members of the 'High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution’ , to which the EU and therefore also Germany belong, called for far-reaching measures such as limiting primary plastic production, restricting harmful single-use plastic products and banning hazardous chemicals. Compared to the previous rounds of negotiations, the number of ambitious countries in Busan had increased. In contrast, some oil-producing countries were in favor of the focus on waste management and recycling. However, a global plastics agreement that only focuses on waste management and recycling is insufficient. According to forecasts, global plastic production will double by 2050 - with devastating consequences for the environment and human health. UFZ researchers recently analysed how plastic affects environmental pollution, climate and biodiversity in a meta-study. Plastics and the associated chemicals are a complex problem that needs to be addressed at every stage of the life cycle. This is the only way to tackle the root causes of plastic pollution. 

Another point of contention was the financing of the measures of the UN Global Plastics Treaty. For example, money should go to small island states whose coasts are particularly affected by plastic pollution and which have tourism as an important source of income. In addition, a more effective drinking water supply for the population should be set up in countries of the global South, as this often only works with water in disposable plastic packaging. However, many countries have so far been reluctant to provide the funds required for implementation in the absence of a clear, ambitious framework. The willingness to finance will depend on the strength of the treaty. This area of tension must therefore be discussed in combination, which was not possible in Busan due to time constraints.

Although no agreement was reached during the week-long conference, two possible scenarios were avoided: the complete cancellation of the negotiations without an agreement and the adoption of a very weak agreement with minimal regulations and measures that would not have achieved any added value.

Prospects for the future

Negotiations on the UN Global Plastics Treaty will continue with a follow-up session INC-5.2 planned for spring or summer 2025. A global treaty is still urgently needed. Three elements would be crucial: 

• Limiting plastic production, as this is the only way to prevent the predicted exponential increase in global plastic production
• Banning harmful plastic products such as certain single-use plastics, which are a major contributor to environmental pollution 
• Replacing chemicals with known hazard potential, as around a quarter of the more than 16,000 chemicals used in plastics are hazardous.

As the negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty have not yet been concluded, there is cautious optimism despite some challenges: the postponement of the agreement will allow for continued dialogue and further refinement of the treaty provisions. This refinement could ensure that the final document is both comprehensive and achieves real added value. It could build momentum for an agreement that effectively addresses the plastics crisis in its entirety. The UN Global Plastics Treaty would therefore be a decisive step towards tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Further information:
Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty: https://ikhapp.org/scientistscoalition/

Further information

Dr Dana Kühnel
UFZ-Department Ökotoxikologe
dana.kuehnel@ufz.de

Prof Dr Annika Jahnke
Leiterin des UFZ-Departments Exposure Science
annika.jahnke@ufz.de

UFZ press office

Susanne Hufe
Phone: +49 341 235-1630
presse@ufz.de