Global Plastics Treaty Challenges and Way Forward

In this article, Arvind Kumar discusses the ongoing global efforts to tackle plastic pollution, specifically the negotiations surrounding the Global Plastics Treaty.

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Despite significant progress, the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, 2024, failed to finalize the treaty due to disagreements over plastic production and waste management. The article highlights the environmental and climate change implications of plastic pollution and the challenges of balancing economic development with sustainability. It emphasizes the need for global cooperation, with India stressing mutual trust, technical support, and a balanced approach to addressing the issue.

On the heels of contentious 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Baku, on November 11–22, 2024, the Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) on Plastic Pollution was held from November 25 to December 1, 2024 in Busan, South Korea. INC-5 based on four earlier rounds of negotiations that followed a historic 2022 resolution at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, which set the goal of developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment.

INC-5 was expected to conclude negotiations on the world’s first legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, which is more commonly known as the “Global Plastics Treaty.” It was attended by more than 170 countries. INC-5 was sequel to four earlier rounds of negotiations: INC-1: Punta del Este, in November 2022; INC-2: Paris in June 2023; INC-3: Nairobi in November 2023; and INC-4: Ottawa in April 2024.