“INC-2.5”: Industry experts call for Small Island Developing States to lead UN Plastic Treaty negotiations

18 Oct 2023 --- At the Global Plastics Summit — coined the “unofficial next round of negotiations on the UN Plastics Treaty INC-2.5” — experts called for Global South and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to lead the next round of the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations in November.

A diverse group of stakeholders representing various sectors, including NGOs, policymakers, the scientific community and representatives from SIDS, including the Vice President of Palau and Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, came together to present their recommendations for guiding the treaty. 

The insights developed during these discussions will be conveyed to the third round of negotiations (INC-3), scheduled for November 13-19, in Kenya, and encompass the following critical points: 

• “Bridging Gaps”: There is a pressing need to establish a platform for global scientific communities to support negotiators from the Global South, including SIDS.
• “Incorporating Key Voices”: Global South and SIDS stakeholders must have a prominent voice in the negotiations, including the upcoming INC-3.
• “Prioritizing Health”: The treaty should adopt the precautionary principle concerning the health impacts of plastics and remain flexible to adapt as scientific knowledge evolves.
• “Funding the Future”: Further exploration is needed to understand how public and private sector capital can be mobilized and utilized to help Global South countries meet the treaty’s obligations.
• “Devil is in the Detail”: Stakeholders call for a focused effort to clarify the treaty’s definitions, principles, and annexes to prevent ambiguity that could hinder decisive action. These aspects must be finalized during INC-3.

SIDS nations are heavily impacted by plastic pollution and their leaders must lead the treaty negotiations, say experts.Human rights impact
The recommendations were unveiled during the inaugural Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, organized by Economist Impact. 

“These recommendations underscore the importance of engaging all stakeholders in developing the UN Plastics Treaty. The treaty must be inclusive and consider the human rights impacts of our collective failure to stop unnecessary plastic production and manage its ensuing waste,” says Charles Goddard, editorial director at Economist Impact and chief moderator at the Global Plastics Summit.

The Global Plastics Summit was hosted with the global ocean-health initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation called Back to Blue. 

An on-the-ground survey conducted by Back to Blue at the Summit highlighted that 60% of delegates want to see the Plastics Treaty stipulate binding agreements to hold nations and businesses accountable for plastic production and waste. 

Forty-one percent of delegates also believe that substantial and long-term financing that will support policy measures should be a top priority for the treaty.

Tackling plastics globally
Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, who attended the Global Plastics Summit, emphasizes that SIDS are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing 1.56% to global mismanaged plastic waste. SIDS exhibits an average per capita waste generation 48% higher than the world’s average, even with many implementing bans on single-use plastics.

“Island nations are suffering the consequences of the world’s inability to reduce plastic production and consumption and properly manage plastic waste. The plastic crisis is not constrained by borders — if our waters are polluted, so are yours. Plastics are a distortion of nature, which is why they do not fit back when we throw them away. We have become used to the plastic age, but I remember when plastics were not being used, so I don’t accept plastic as a necessity of our life,” Thomson says.SIDS are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing 1.56% to global mismanaged plastic waste. 

“Speaking as a representative of the ocean, I’d like to see the UN Plastics Treaty emphasize the alternatives to plastic, alternatives that are nature-friendly and are thus part of a circular economy. Nature is a circular process, and the treaty must take us toward greater respect for nature.” 

The Vice President of Palau highlighted the significant impact of plastic pollution on island nations, affecting both their economies and livelihoods.

According to the organizations, the world generates 350 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, which is expected to triple by 2060. The recommendations underscore the urgent need for decisive action against the plastic crisis. They prioritize inclusivity and emphasize the human rights impacts of ongoing plastic production and waste mismanagement.

“It is no surprise the majority of those at the Global Plastics Summit want to see the UN Plastics Treaty hold nations and businesses to account for plastic consumption and waste. An ambitious treaty must work across the life cycle of plastics and include a reduction in the production of virgin plastic alongside binding control measures, regulations and incentives to stimulate a circular economy for plastics,” remarks Goddard.

“Crucially, it must also build robust financial support and resources, particularly so developing countries can implement the treaty. Otherwise, we will not bend the plastic pollution curve.”

By Radhika Sikaria