Though before Busan, INC-5.1 had a lot of momentum for member states to agree on a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, talks stalled. While most of the world is pushing for strong measures to reduce plastic production and eliminate toxic plastic chemicals, progress is stalled by the fossil fuel industry and its allies; keeping the plastic pipeline open at the expense of human health and of the environment. And here we are again in Geneva for INC-5.2, the final frontier of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty.

Meanwhile, the tide of plastic keeps rising. Every delay means more plastic in our oceans, more toxins in our bodies, and a harder fight to reverse the damage. Imagine standing at the mouth of an Ocean on the coast of East or West Africa, watching as waves of plastic waste and toxic chemicals wash up onshore; a crisis that threatens marine life, human health and entire ecosystems. Thus, a Global Plastics Treaty is urgently needed to reduce and mitigate this crisis. Well, international treaties often take years to be agreed due to complex negotiations between countries with different priorities. And despite not reaching its 2024 target, the INC momentum remains.

Each round of negotiations has gone deeper into the key issues. And at INC-5.1, countries made it clear where their red lines are. For instance, East and West Africa made a joint statement calling on addressing the problem at national level. Stressing that, addressing plastic pollution with downstream solutions only (e.g. recycling, compostability, biodegradability) will not be sufficient on their own. Limits need to be placed on production, consumption and pollution management to reduce the mounting pressure on natural ecosystems and human health. By designing systems that reduce resource use, prolong product lifespans, and promote reuse and repair, is the definition of the circular economy for plastic, which offers part of the solution.