Greetings from the Negotiations of the International Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

The final negotiating session of the International Treaty to end Plastic Pollution took place in Busan, South Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024. Muriel Mercier-Bonin from our partner organization INRAE shares insights on the atmosphere of the negotiations.

The latest negotiating session of the International Treaty to end Plastic Pollution took place in Busan, South Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024, at the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5). The meeting took place under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Muriel Mercier-Bonin from our partner organization INRAE took part in the negotiations as a part of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.

The coalition is an international network of diverse, independent scientific and technical experts seeking to contribute with scientific knowledge to decision makers and the public involved in the negotiations towards a global agreement to end plastic pollution.

71 members of the coalition were present in Busan, informing the negotiators of the scientific facts on plastic pollution.

“After over seven days of intense negotiations, delegates were unable to reach agreement on a final text considering a global approach taking into account the entire life cycle of plastics, including their production, design and disposal, according to the resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5/14) in March 2022,” says Muriel Mercier-Bonin.

“However, the closure of the INC-5 should not be seen as a failure, but rather as a postponement. Good progress was made in favor of an ambitious treaty, with many interventions referring to scientific facts, which show the importance of our actions, as scientists, during these negotiations. Interventions and positions reaffirmed the need for a treaty that is binding on a large number of countries, such as the declarations by Panama, Mexico and Rwanda. Negotiations will therefore continue into 2025, and the INC-5.2 will be decisive (place and date to be defined) and will be based on the text proposed by the Chair at the end of the INC-5.”

“The INC-5 was an incredible experience in scientific, organisational and human terms.”

Hot takes from INC-5

26 November 2024: French-speaking film screening event

Some of the French-speaking colleagues organised and hosted an event at the nearby cinema featuring a screening of the film “Cher plastique, une histoire d’amour toxique”.

“The event brought many INC-5 participants together with a unique aim of reaching French-speaking delegations and science-interested observers,” says Muriel Mercier-Bonin.

“This film takes us on a journey to meet the researchers, some of whom were present at the event, who meticulously track down plastic pollution and its effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It also takes stock of the ambiguous relationship we have with this material, and invites us to question our plastic consumption and lifestyles, as well as the solutions available to us to combat this pollution and change this “toxic” relationship.”

27 November 2024: Women’s delegates lunch organised by Women’s Major Group

Many women, including Merciel-Bonin, attended the Women’s Delegates Lunch organised by the Women’s Major Group, an opportunity to network informally with women of all nationalities and backgrounds, and to hear some powerful stories about the impact of plastic pollution on women’s health.

“As also said by Dalia Márquez Añez from Women’s Major Group in her declaration during the closing plenary on 1st December 2024, the chemicals in plastics, including endocrine disruptors, have been scientifically linked to a range of serious health problems including cancer, infertility, thyroid problems, miscarriages and developmental problems in future generations. These pollutants have been found in the placenta and in newborn babies, underlining the direct threat to reproductive health. It was discussed that the treaty has to prioritise human health, especially the health of Indigenous People women, children and adolescents,” describes Muriel Mercier-Bonin.

28 November 2024: a Swiss Break

A standing dinner reception was hosted by the Swiss delegation. Known as the “Swiss Break”, it has become a ritual for every Thursday evening at all INC meetings.

“During the Swiss Break, I had a chance to meet with Lisa Koperqualuk from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and her colleague Aviaja Tindbæk Jørgensen from ICC Greenland,” says Muriel Mercier-Bonin.

30 November 2024: press conference from International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics

The International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics held a press conference to make their voices heard about the disproportionate impact of plastic pollution on lives, communities and ecosystems.

This was also highlighted by Lisa Koperqualuk (ICC) in her declaration during the closing plenary on 1st December with her focus on the Arctic. She underlined that the Arctic is disproportionately affected by many pressures: climate change, pollution, increasing human development, and it is also projected to be a sink for plastic pollution without the capacity to deal with it adequately. She called on all delegations to act with the necessary urgency and agree on a strong treaty text that truly addresses the root causes of plastic pollution for the sake of humanity.

1 December 2024: press conference held by States calling for a high ambition treaty

Faced with a small group of countries and their strategy to weaken the most structuring articles of the treaty, countries with strong ambitions joined forces to assert their position.

First, a group of ambitious countries, such as Panama, France, Rwanda and EU Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, held a press conference in the morning of December 1 to announce that more than 75 countries had already joined an initiative to push for an ambitious treaty text at INC-5 that phases out harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern.

Then, this position was confirmed on the evening of December 1 at the closing plenary: 85 countries supported Rwanda’s declaration for an ambitious and comprehensive treaty; 100 countries supported Panama’s proposal on production reduction and 95 countries supported Mexico’s proposal on chemicals of concern.