Plastics of the 'Now' and 'Future'... Our Choice [Climate Crisis Now]

Many people agree that plastic is a problem. The world's oceans are suffering from plastic waste. Microplastics ultimately harm humans through the food chain. 90% of plastics produced once are not recycled and are discarded, a vicious cycle that continues.



When it comes to how to solve this, thoughts differ. One side suggests a fundamental solution called 'production reduction'. The other side suggests a method of creating a circular cycle through recycling.



The 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5), which had been discussing this in Busan, Korea, has come to a close. The conclusion was that reducing production is 'voluntary' rather than legally binding, and that it will be discussed later.



Plastic waste is filling the ocean. [Photo=WWF]



It seems that now is not the time to reduce plastic production. Many people are wondering whether this solution will be effective in the future.



International NGOs claimed that "INC5 ended without results," and that "the Korean government must face the serious impact of increased plastic production and related facility expansion on the climate crisis."



Discussions on the plastic agreement began with the issue of marine waste. After five meetings, the discussion expanded beyond the issue of marine waste to the need to reduce plastic production itself in order to respond to the climate crisis in the future.



Climate Solutions pointed out that "more than 90% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and only 9% of discarded plastics are recycled," and "most plastic waste is difficult to recycle through physical methods due to contamination, material mixing, and dyeing."



The problem of plastic pollution cannot be solved simply through waste management or recycling. In 2019, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also released an analysis report stating that the global plastic production chain is non-circular.



A Climate Solutions official explained, "INC5, held in Busan from November 25 to December 1, was an important event for the conclusion of a plastics agreement, but it ended with results that fell short of expectations." "While oil-producing countries such as Russia and Saudi Arabia emphasized voluntary national efforts, island nations that are directly affected by pollution supported a strong agreement including a production reduction target."



The gap between the different countries' positions was large, and it was assessed that it was not narrowed until the last day of negotiations.



Climate Solutions said, "Despite being one of the major plastic producing countries, the Korean government did not show the will to make reasonable reductions that take into account the future of humanity." "This INC5 negotiation process shows how difficult it is to conclude a new agreement on environmental issues that transcend national borders." They emphasized that



the Korean government must face the serious impact of increased plastic production and related facility expansion on the climate crisis. It is difficult to achieve effectiveness in reducing plastic production through voluntary national efforts alone.



Greenpeace also commented on the INC5, saying, "Additional meeting decision without conclusion of international plastic agreement."



Greenpeace pointed out that "there was a sharp confrontation between countries that wanted a strong agreement to 'reduce production itself' and oil-producing countries that wanted waste-centered management, and so no conclusion was reached."



Graham Forbes, leader of Greenpeace's Global Plastics Campaign, urged, "Government representatives from each country should come up with an effective agreement that includes legally binding international targets and practical measures to reduce plastic production at the next meeting." He



also argued that protection from hazardous chemicals, banning the use of single-use plastics, setting reuse targets, and establishing a fair financial plan should be addressed as key tasks.



Graham Forbes raised his voice, saying, "INC should stop the practice of excluding observers from the negotiation process and should prioritize the voices of communities most affected by plastic pollution." He added, "We must never again see a small number of countries and the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries block the efforts of the majority of countries around the world."



Kim Nara, a Greenpeace plastic campaigner, said, "At this INC5 meeting, the Korean government did not take active steps toward a strong agreement, including production reductions, contrary to what it has said in the media," and "It has disappointed member states that attended this agreement, civil society at home and abroad, and global citizens who had expected a strong agreement."



Park Min-hye, Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Korea, said, "This decision by Korea and its negotiating teams is a choice that turns its back on future generations," and "We had hoped that the efforts to end plastic pollution that have continued for over 1,000 days would bear fruit at the negotiations held in Busan, but no real progress was made."





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