BPF at INC-5 for the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution

The BPF attended the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The negotiations took place from the 25th November – 1st December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea. Lara Steinhobel, Sustainability Issues Executive, represented the BPF as a registered UN Observer at the negotiations. The event drew over 3,300 participants, representing governments, academia, civil society organisations, the private sector, UN bodies and international organisations. Despite prolonged hours of intense negotiations, delegates at INC-5 were unable to finalise a treaty to combat plastic pollution.  

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted resolution 5/14 in 2022 during its resumed fifth session (UNEA-5.2). This landmark resolution called for an end to plastic pollution and established the INC to draft an international legally binding agreement addressing the issue. The INC planned five meetings from November 2022 to November 2024, aiming to conclude its work by the end of 2024. However, INC-5 fell short of achieving consensus, and after extended deliberations that stretched into the early hours of the 2nd December 2024, the session was suspended, with plans to reconvene in 2025.

Over three days, delegates deliberated a first draft of a “non-paper” in contact groups, leading to the release of a revised version - the Chair’s Text, published on the 1st December 2024. This final text sought to incorporate the outcomes of discussions at INC-5. Informal consultations followed, which were restricted to Member States and in which discussions around this version of the paper were had.  Delegates agreed to base future negotiations on this INC Chair’s Text.

Many Member States have acknowledged the progress made in refining ideas and identifying key “red line” issues, aiming to close significant divides between countries on critical topics. Constructive debates took place on matters such as product design and waste management, but significant disagreements persisted on whether topics like chemicals of concern, plastic production, and supply should fall under the UNEA-5.2 mandate. Limited progress was made on financing mechanisms, too. Central to these discussions was the unresolved debate over whether the treaty should adopt mandatory or voluntary measures and whether these measures should operate globally or at the national level. These fundamental questions underpinned nearly every area of debate and remained unresolved.

Despite the session's inability to achieve a definitive agreement, it marked a critical step towards the finish line. As the details of an “INC-5.2 resumed session” become apparent, the BPF will continue to stay close to the process as it unfolds, including having meetings with Defra, attending the OPLN UK Dialogues and continuing conversations with industry and other stakeholders.

The BPF will also be hosting a webinar on what happened in Busan, covering the insights and outcomes from INC-5 in more detail. The webinar will take place on the 9th January 2025 - sign up here.

The BPF’s position statement can be read here.

Author:

Lara Steinhobel - Sustainability Issues Executive