There is not yet a global treaty about combating plastic pollution. Countries that gathered in Geneva did not reach an agreement in the past week and a half.
In particular, limiting global plastic production turned out to be a controversial proposal during the top. Even countries did not agree on the possibility of prohibiting specific products from plastic and to finance the approach to plastic waste in developing countries.
Those elements are most important to reach an agreement in the future, said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the Ecuadoran chairman of the top. It is not yet known whether negotiations will be taken further at a later time.
In Geneva, representatives from more than 180 countries met to talk about the content of the plastic treaty. Such a treaty must shrink the globally growing mountain of plastic waste by taking measures on the entire ‘life cycle’ of plastics.
In fact, the agreements should have been finished last year. But in South Korea it was then unable to reach an agreement.
Furious reactions to concept
Even now the negotiations went very bad. In the first week, diplomats hardly made any progress. On Wednesday, chairman Valdivieso tried to force a breakthrough by presenting a draft version of a final text.
That led to furious reactions. In the concept, the ambitious proposals that have been discussed in the past three years were disappeared. For example, there was nothing in it about limiting worldwide plastic production, a ban on the use of harmful chemicals or at all about the prevention of health damage due to plastic.
In a plenary meeting it therefore rained criticism from countries that found the text “unacceptable” as the basis for further negotiations. The European Union also wanted to see extra measures.
But oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United States showed that they thought the concept was going too far and that their “red lines” had been crossed.
Plastic is almost always made of petroleum. Countries that produce oil see plastic as a growth market. Due to the rise of the electric car, the demand for fuels for cars will fall in the coming years. But the global hunger for plastic is only getting bigger.
That is precisely why environmental groups are calling for a limitation of the production of new plastic. That would encourage countries to focus more on the reuse of products and on more environmentally friendly materials.
Time-out or further negotiation?
In the night from Thursday to Friday, ValDiviesso presented a second draft proposal for a plastic agreement. In it, more references had returned to the possibility of drawing up rules for specific products of plastic or chemicals that are incorporated therein.
But legally binding measures were not forthcoming, and again there was no article about plastic production. In the night from Thursday to Friday it became clear that the compromise could not count on unanimous support.
On Friday morning, several countries expressed their disappointment about the result. It is not yet clear how it should continue with the conversations about the plastic treaty. Many countries said they want to continue working on a treaty.
However, Switzerland suggested taking a “time-out” because it would not make sense to organize a similar negotiating round. Other countries proposed to negotiate further quickly, because, according to them, progress has been made.
‘Better this than a bad treaty’
Outgoing State Secretary Thierry Aartsen of the Environment finds it disappointing that no agreement has been concluded. Now, according to the VVD minister, there is a triplication of the use of plastic. “While 90 percent already ends up in the environment.”
Maria Westerbos, founder of the Plastic Soup Foundation, is also disappointed that it was not possible to arrive at a plastic treaty. But she is happy that ambitious countries have kept their backs straight. “Better this than a bad treaty,” she tells NU.nl. “I am actually relieved.”
Westerbos hopes that the EU and other ambitious countries will not wait for those left behind to take measures against the plastic problem. They could already work together to prohibit harmful chemicals, she says.
For the time being, there will be no global treaty to combat plastic pollution. Countries that with in Geneva for this Purpose Have Been Unable to Reach An Agreement In The Past Week and A Half.
In particular, Limiting Global Plastic Production Proved to Be Too Controversial A Proposal Turning the Summit. Countries also Failed to Agree on the Possibility of Banning Specific Plastic Products and Financing the Handling of Plastic Waste in Developing Countries.
These Elements Are The Most Important To Still Reach An Agreement In The Future, Said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, The Ecuadorian Chairman of the Summit. It is not Yet Known Whether Further Negotiations Will Take Place at A Later Date.
Representatives from More Than 180 Countries with in Geneva to discuss the content of the plastic treaty. Such A Treaty Should Reduce the Globally Growing Mountain of Plastic Waste by Taking Measures Over The Entire ‘Life Cycle’ of Plastics.
The Agreements Should Actual have Been Completed Last Year. But it was not Possible to Reach An Agreement in South Korea at the Time.
Angry Reactions to concept
The negotiations were also very diffcomed this time. Diplomats Hardly Made Any Progress in the First Week. On Wednesday, Chairman Valdivieso Tried to Force A Breakthrough by Presenting a Draft Version of a Final Text.
That led to angry reactions. The concept omitted the most amitious proposals discussed about The Past Three Years. For example, there was Nothing about Limiting Global Plastic Production, A Ban On The Use of Harmful Chemicals OR, in General, About Preventing Health Damage from Plastic.
In A Plenary Meeting, Therefore, There Was a Rain of Criticism from Countries That Considered the Text “Unactable” AS A Basic for Further Negotiations. The European Union also Wanted to See Addital Measures.
But Oil-Producing Countries Such As Saudi Arabia and the United States Indicated that they already Thought the Concept Went Too Far and That Their “Red Lines” had Been Crossed.
Plastic is Almost Always Made from Petroleum. Countries That Produce Oil See Plastic As A Growth Market. Due to the Rise of the Electric Car, The Demand for Fuels for Cars Will Fall in the Coming Years. But the global hunger for plastic is only getting bigger for the time being.
That is Precisely Why Environmental Groups Are Calling for a Limitation on the Production of New Plastic. That would Encourage Countries to Focus More on Reusing Products and On More Environmentally Friendly Materials.
Time-out or further negotiations?
On the night from Thursday to Friday, Valdivieso Presented A Second Draft Proposal for a Plastic Agreement. IT Contained More References Back to the Possibility of Drawing Up Rules for Specific Products Made of Plastic or Chemicals Processed in Them.
But Legally Binding Measures Were Not Forthcoming, And There Was Again No article On Plastic Production. On the night from Thursday to Friday it Became clear that the compromise could not count on unanimous support.
On Friday Morning, Several Countries Expressed Their Disappointment with the Result. It is not yet clear what will happen next with the talks about the plastic treaty. Many Countries Said They wanted to Continue Working On A Treaty.
However, Switzerland Propose Taking a “time-out”, because it would be pointless to organize a similar round of negotiations again. Other Countries Argued for Quick Further Negotiations, because they said Progress had leg made.
‘Better this than a Bad Treaty’
Outgoing State Secretary Thierry Aartsen of the Environment Findes It Disappointing That No Agreement Has Been Reached. Accordance to the VVD minister, there is now a threat of a tripling of the use of plastic. “While 90 percent already ends up in the environment.”
Maria Westerbos, Founder of the Plastic Soup Foundation, is also disappointed that it has not leg Possible to reach a plastic treaty. But She is Happy That Ambitious Countries Have Stood Their Ground. “Better this than a Bad Treaty,” She Tells Nu.nl. “I’m actually relieved.”
Westerbos Hopes That the Eu and Other Ambitious Countries Will Not Wait For The Laggards to Take Measures Against the Plastic Problem. They could now jointly take action to ban harmful chemicals, she says.