Press Release: No Agreement Reached on Global Plastics Treaty at INC-5
Busan, South Korea, December 1, 2024
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) on a global treaty to end plastic pollution concluded today without reaching a final agreement. Despite years of preparation and a week of intensive discussions, member states were unable to find consensus on critical issues such as production caps, chemical regulations, and mandatory measures for plastic lifecycle management.
“This is a disappointing outcome,” said Karen Landmark, Managing Director of GRID-Arendal. “Plastic pollution is not just an environmental crisis; it accelerates the climate crisis and threatens ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. The planet cannot afford another setback. We need a legally binding treaty that reduces plastic production, holds polluters accountable, and aligns with our climate goals.”
The Chair of the INC, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, had presented a consolidated text as a potential basis for compromise, but divisions among member states on key provisions like production targets and financial mechanisms proved too significant to resolve.
“There are too many unresolved issues, from defining ‘plastic’ to agreeing on production limits,” said Lars Stordal, an expert from GRID-Arendal. “While some progress was made on waste management and just transition, upstream interventions on production and design lacked the urgency this crisis demands.”
The majority of nations remain committed to a strong, binding treaty, but a small group of resistant voices continues to block progress. The absence of a treaty today underscores the urgency for greater political will and global cooperation.
As negotiations continue, GRID-Arendal and its partners call for transformative action to address plastic pollution at its source. “We need ambitious, global solutions,” said Lars Stordal, GRID-Arendal’s Head of Delegation. “Delays and compromises jeopardize not only the environment but future generations who depend on the decisions made here.”
Contact for more information:
Maria Dalby, Head of Meda relations, GRID-Arendal
(WhatsApp +47 90640556)
Additional resources and images from INC-5:
Release date: 01 Dec 2024
