Ahead of G7 summit in Italy, France flags unsustainable levels reached by plastic pollution
Photo shared by @HACplastic / X (Formerly Twitter)
Member states had failed to reach a consensus on intersessional work at the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) held under United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) aegis in Nairobi last year. However, there were expectations that INC-4 would facilitate agreement among member states to engage in intersessional work on various issues.
During the fourth plenary session held on April 28 — the penultimate day of INC-4 — the Chair introduced a proposal open for comments from member states.
The proposal aimed to establish an ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group tasked with developing an analysis of potential resources and means for implementing the instrument.
This expert group would utilise the report of Contact Group (CG) 2 and the draft text of Part III on financing, means of implementation, technical assistance, and technology transfer as starting points. Additionally, the Expert Group would consist of two co-chairs.
Another aspect of the proposal involved establishing a similar ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert group to propose criteria on plastic products and chemicals of concern, along with related product design issues.
This group would draw insights from the report of CG1 and the draft text of relevant sections developed at INC-4. Like the first group, this Expert Group would also have two co-chairs.
The chair urged both expert groups to initiate their work electronically, with the Committee requesting the Secretariat to organise one in-person meeting for each expert group during the intersessional period.
What is missing?
The Chair’s proposal for intersessional work omitted any mention of primary plastic polymers. This provision was consistently met with strong opposition from like-minded countries, a coalition comprising select oil, gas, and plastic-producing nations. These countries frequently link plastics to issues such as food security, food safety, health, and their significant contributions to the economies of certain member states.
As a result, the like-minded countries swiftly agreed to the Chair’s proposal to commence intersessional work on the outlined provisions. However, during interventions in the plenary, 53 member states expressed their desire to include the provision on primary plastic polymers, citing the conference room paper (CRP) jointly presented by Rwanda and Peru. The CRP had proposed establishing baselines for the year 2025, sharing data on production levels, types, and quantities of polymers produced, and striving for a 40X40 goal — a 40 per cent reduction in production by 2040.
The Group of Latin American Countries (GRULAC) has put forth another proposal, which includes a crucial element that is absent from the Chair’s proposal, focusing on definitions.
It proposes formation of an Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) to conduct intersessional work between the fourth and fifth sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4 and INC-5). The OEWG will focus on Part II (substantive elements) and Part III (financing mechanisms and technology transfer) of the Revised Draft Text, considering the outcomes of INC-4.
Specifically, Part II will address key definitions related to plastic, plastic pollution, problematic plastic, and other relevant terms, along with possible criteria and approaches for treaty implementation. Part III will cover the structure of the financial mechanism, including a dedicated fund, as well as capacity-building, technical assistance, and technology transfer.
The OEWG will meet in person at a specified date and venue, with broadcasting available for parties and observers, but no virtual interventions. Developing countries will have financing provided for two representatives per country. The OEWG will produce an outcome document with recommendations for consideration at INC-5.
During their interventions, certain member states also expressed backing for the GRULAC proposal, particularly concerning the definitions.
Political pressure rises
Meanwhile, at the G7 environment ministers’ meeting in Turin, the French delegation highlighted that plastic pollution had reached unsustainable levels, marking the first acknowledgment of this issue by the G7.
They emphasised a commitment to reducing primary polymer production for ending plastic pollution by 2040. This commitment involves laying out concrete measures, though specifics were not disclosed.
Although all G7 members have not been committed to stopping plastic production at INC meetings, France’s Environment Minister, Christophe Bechu, underscored plastic pollution’s interconnectedness with climate change, biodiversity loss, and overall pollution, expressing concern over its rapid spread across environments.
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