Plastic Pollution - Discord From The Beginning

Industry hijacks the first round of negotiations on proposed global plastic treaty as countries talk in differing voices

- Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh

ON DECEMBER 2, 2022, negotiators responsible for carving out a global treaty on ending plastic pollution by 2024 concluded their first-ever meeting in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. The five-day meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee, which began on November 28, showed glimpses of what is in store over the next two years. Countries spoke in different voices, with their individual interests in mind and many negotiating teams saw strong representation from the industry, which until recently opposed the treaty that was agreed upon by all 195 UN member-states at the resumed session of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), held in Nairobi, Kenya, between February 28 and March 2, 2022.

The negotiation process was attended by member-states from regional groups, along with major groups that include the civil society and other stakeholders, and observers that include individuals and bodies not enrolled under UN Environment Programme but have a stake in the treaty. Surprisingly, industry representatives attended the event both as part of the member-state delegations and as major groups. In fact, the industry participated even in the regional group meetings that were held on the sidelines, where the member-states decided their stance on the issue. Most of these meetings were closed door, and often did not allow the civil society. For instance, the Asia-Pacific region refused the participation of civil society organisations in its regional meetings, but allowed the industry.