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CWA # 1549, 9 December 2024
Global Politics Explainer
Busan Plastic Pollution Summit: What happened in Busan? And what didnt?

  Kavithasri M

On 25 November the Plastic Pollution Summit in Busan, formally known as the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), took place for six days. This summit brought together more than 3300 participants, including representatives from over 170 countries and more than 440 observer organizations, from 25 November to 1 December 2024, to finalize an international, legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution across its full life cycle from production to disposal. This summit follows earlier negotiations and aims to address the escalating environmental crisis. With over 400 million metric tons of plastic produced annually and nearly 11 million tons entering oceans each year, the urgency to curb plastic pollution has never been greater. The treaty seeks to ensure sustainable alternatives, reduce reliance on single-use plastics, and mitigate their impact on ecosystems and human health. With no resolution in sight and significant disagreements remaining, negotiators agreed to resume talks next year, leaving the timeline uncertain. This delay underscores the complexity of addressing the escalating environmental crisis and the need for stronger global cooperation.

What is the plastic pollution issue all about?
Plastic pollution is a significant global environmental crisis, primarily driven by the exponential increase in plastic production and waste. The issue has profound implications for ecosystems, human health, and economies, prompting international efforts. Over 400 million metric tons of plastic are produced annually, with approximately 40 per-cent used for single-use products. Of this, only nine per-cent is recycled, while annually, around 52 million tons of plastic are mismanaged globally, contributing to pollution through litter, uncollected waste, and improper disposal methods. Around 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, disrupting marine ecosystems. Without intervention, this figure could nearly triple by 2040. An estimated 358 trillion particles on ocean surfaces and larger waste, such as abandoned fishing gear, known as "ghost gear." The fishing industry, single-use plastics, and inadequate recycling systems exacerbate the issue. For instance, only about 1% of the estimated 5 trillion plastic bags used annually are recycled, while single-use plastics production continues to rise, projected to increase by 17 million tons by 2027. Geographically, countries in Asia produce 80% of ocean-bound plastic, driven by poor waste management infrastructures and significant waste exports from other regions like Europe. In contrast, high-income nations such as the U.S. generate large amounts of waste per capita, with limited recycling success. 

What did the Busan Summit aimed to achieve?
The plastic pollution summit in Busan aimed to create the first-ever legally binding global treaty addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The primary objectives included Addressing the full life cycle of plastics, the treaty sought to tackle plastic pollution from production to disposal, including measures to reduce plastic production, improve recycling and waste management, and promote sustainable alternatives. Mitigating Environmental Impact: With plastic pollution increasingly affecting oceans, wildlife, and ecosystems, the treaty aimed to protect biodiversity by curbing the inflow of plastics into the natural environment. Establishing binding commitments, a key focus was on enforcing global, legally binding controls on harmful chemicals used in plastic manufacturing and setting clear rules to limit plastic waste generation and environmental leakage. Promoting Global Equity, the summit emphasized balancing the interests of developed and developing countries, ensuring equitable responsibilities and support for countries with limited resources to implement plastic reduction measures.

What went right/wrong at Busan?
This summit has both positive and negative outcomes. Things that went right in the summit are the global participation; the summit saw robust participation from over 170 countries and 600 observer organizations, highlighting widespread international commitment to addressing plastic pollution. Acknowledging the issue, most nations recognized the urgency of combating plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for a treaty that tackles the full life cycle of plastics, from production to waste management. Progress on the negotiation framework: delegates managed to streamline discussions by agreeing on a procedural approach, including using a "non-paper" document as the basis for further negotiations, marking a step forward in organizing dialogue. Although the summit concluded without a finalized treaty, it highlighted crucial areas of contention, including the scope of production cuts and the treatment of toxic chemicals.

Things that went wrong are failure to reach agreement; the summit ended without a finalized treaty, with significant disagreements on critical issues, such as reducing global plastic production and imposing legally binding controls on harmful chemicals. Polarized Positions: Oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia resisted efforts to reduce plastic production, fearing economic consequences. Their stance contrasted sharply with the ambitions of developed countries and small island states advocating stringent production cuts. Delays and procedural challenges, prolonged debates over procedural rules and negotiation frameworks, consumed time, leaving substantive issues largely unresolved. There is some uncertainty in future steps; while talks are set to resume in 2025, there is no clear timeline or structure for achieving the treaty, which risks further delays in addressing the escalating plastic pollution crisis.

What’s next after the Busan summit?
Following the inconclusive outcome of the Busan Summit, negotiators plan to resume talks in 2025 to continue working towards a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. Negotiators will set a firm timeline and location for the next session in 2025 and will establish a clear agenda to prevent delays and procedural inefficiencies. Refinements to the "non-paper" document used in Busan will likely be made. The aim will be streamline proposals on contentious topics such as production limits, controls on toxic chemicals, and equitable responsibilities for countries. Some countries may introduce or strengthen domestic policies on plastic reduction, recycling, and alternative materials to demonstrate leadership and influence treaty discussions. Developing mechanisms to support lower-income countries in adopting treaty obligations, including funding and technology transfer, will be key discussion points leading up to the next session. Observer organizations and environmental advocacy groups will continue lobbying for an ambitious treaty. Their role in maintaining public and political pressure is critical to ensure progress. While the delay underscores the complexity of global policymaking, it also presents an opportunity for more thorough preparation and consensus-building. The success of the next round will hinge on the ability of countries to prioritize environmental and public health over short-term economic interests.

About the author
Kavithasri M is a Postgraduate Student at Pondicherry University.

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