Reacción a "Negotiations to move forward with global plastics treaty fail"

After 10 days of negotiations, in this sixth phase to agree on a global treaty on plastic pollution, no treaty has been reached. We see two main groups: Member States that want an ambitious and effective agreement, and those that want a treaty limited to waste management.

We have scientific evidence showing that in order to tackle the problem of plastic pollution, we must consider the entire life cycle of the material, from resource extraction to the final destination of the plastic. An effective treaty should reflect a reduction in the production and use of plastics. If the chemicals associated with plastics are not regulated, our health and that of all living beings will be compromised.

It seems that science is being listened to more, but it is not always taken into account. The draft text presented by the chair on Wednesday [Ecuadorian Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the negotiating committee] left out these points, resembling a waste treatment agreement, much weaker than the previous Busan proposal.

There was a lot of disagreement among countries and a request was made for a new draft to be prepared.

In the early hours of Friday morning, after long hours of waiting and widespread uncertainty, a new text was issued, with a more ambitious tone but not enough for the majority. A significant group of countries preferred not to accept a weak agreement that does not include the entire material cycle.

Despite the frustration, a weak treaty that ignores key elements is not desirable, as it could keep the world tied to a long-term agreement that is incapable of ending plastic pollution. The current proposal should be significantly strengthened and, with a more concerted global effort, it is still possible to achieve a treaty that is commensurate with the problem we face.