The negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty in Ottawa ended with a compromise favoring the fossil fuel industry.
Key issues such as reducing plastic production were inadequately addressed.
Representatives from frontline communities demand a comprehensive and sustainable treaty.
Global Plastics Negotiations: Compromises in Favor of the Fossil Fuel Industry?
Last week, a team from Earthworkers, along with other NGOs and people affected by plastic production in the U.S., traveled to Ottawa, Canada – the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – for the fourth round of negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty.
The aim of the treaty is to develop an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution. The week was marked by intense negotiations and various events, but ultimately ended with a compromise where the interests of the planet and affected communities took a back seat to the fossil fuel industry's agenda. Here are the main points:
The negotiations on the most controversial topics, such as plastic production, were pushed to the end, leaving little time for discussion.
Work on the treaty will continue between now and the next round, which will take place in November 2024 in Busan, South Korea. However, member states have decided to exclude primary plastic polymers from these discussions. This makes it harder to include text on extraction or production reduction in the final treaty.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India, which are major plastic producers, want to keep the focus narrow, while nations like Rwanda and Peru have proposed a 40% reduction in plastic production by 2040.
The negotiations were hampered by the presence of 196 registered fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists, a 37% increase from previous rounds. These lobbyists outnumbered the Indigenous Peoples caucus by seven times. Smaller nations had difficulties participating in every working group and keeping up with the constantly changing policy texts.
In the U.S., the petrochemical industry is a major source of toxic pollution, which can have deadly health impacts, damage local environments, and exacerbate the climate crisis. The fracking boom is fueling the growth of the plastics industry, primarily in Texas and Louisiana, and rapidly expanding in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Representatives of affected communities who face health and environmental crises due to plastic production and material extraction attended the negotiations to advocate for a treaty that addresses not only the disposal of plastics but also the amount produced and how it is used.
Frankie Orona, Executive Director of the Society of Native Nations, has played a leading role in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations from the start. He emphasizes the need to include Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities in the discussions to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
Jill Hunkler, Director of Ohio Valley Allies, shared her experiences from the Ohio River Valley, a hotspot of the petrochemical industry. She described the severe health and environmental impacts of plastic production in her region.
John Beard Jr., founder and CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network, stressed the need to address the entire plastic supply chain. He calls for a strong treaty without loopholes, prioritizing people's and the planet's interests over industry profits.
