The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (“INC-5”) on a global plastics treaty to regulate the lifecycle impacts of plastic took place from 25 November - 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea. It concluded without reaching agreement on a final text. Over 3,300 delegates from more than 170 nations and 440 organisations attended. As we’ve previously reported, agreeing the text was a tall order given the expedited timescale of the series of negotiations as a whole, and the remaining gulf between the positions of coalitions of countries at the end of INC-4. 

Key takeaways from INC-5

• Positive outcomes included greater alignment on the treaty structure and elements of the treaty text, as well as a clearer understanding of national positions and international challenges.
• However, divergence of views remained in critical areas. As a result, the session adjourned with the adoption of a ‘Chair’s Text’, which will serve as the starting point for negotiations that will be continued in 2025.
• The Chair’s Text does not include a provision on scope, remains heavily bracketed and still offers multiple options on key issues.
• Proposals for a global plastic reduction target, which more than 100 countries endorse, were weakened, with some referring to the targets as ‘aspirational’. 
• On waste management, the waste hierarchy was removed and ‘energy recovery’ continues to be included, criticised by some environmental groups. 
• The text has limited scope to strengthen action over time on chemicals of concern.
• The requirement for financial support from developing countries was weakened despite 120 countries calling for a dedicated fund to assist in implementing the treaty.

Reaction

Reflecting on the talks, environmental groups allege that obstructionism from fossil fuel producing countries has meant that the talks did not deliver their intended outcome. There was also criticism of the presence at the talks of representatives from the fossil fuel and plastics production industries. 

Some environmental groups have also suggested that fossil fuel economies who oppose a ‘meaningful treaty’ should be excluded from further talks.

Conclusion

Whilst some progress was made at INC-5, fundamental issues like plastic production targets and financial support for developing countries remain unresolved. To some extent these talks are being swept up in the general malaise regarding the stagnation of multilateral decision-making on climate change and biodiversity, that have also fallen foul of wide divides that exist between negotiating blocs with very different economic, ideological and geographic situations. 

However, the major achievement of the plastic treaty talks is perhaps that states agreed to extend talks beyond the original mandate into 2025, such that the global conversation will continue. On the flipside, talks could now descend into a rambling ongoing dialogue that loses its way. The challenge for the UN will be how to ensure that this doesn’t happen. In the meantime, the date and venue for the resumed talks is awaited.

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