a global treaty in Busan (South Korea) or a predicted failure?

Since November 25, 2024, in Busan, South Korea, a final round of negotiations has opened aimed at establishing an international treaty to combat plastic pollution. No fewer than 175 nations are discussing a legally binding text. However, disagreements are deep, pitting ambitious countries against plastic producers. What is at stake in this agreement?

Fight against plastic pollution: the ambitions of the coalition

France, allied with a coalition of 75 countries, is campaigning for a strict treaty which would include:

• A drastic reduction in the production of virgin plastic.
• The establishment of the principle of polluter pays.
• Ambitious recycling targets to compensate for a current global rate of only 9%.

These countries, including Germany, Senegal and Rwanda, rely on alarming studies. En 2020, global plastic production stood at 460 million tonnes, a figure that could triple by 2060 if no action is taken.

The brakes imposed by plastic and oil producers

Faced with this coalition, a group of producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Russia, are pleading for a lightly restrictive agreement. According to them, limiting plastic production could affect their economies, which are heavily dependent on petrochemical industries. The United States, the largest consumer of plastic, adopts an ambivalent position. While recognizing the need for action, they reject a binding treaty, fearing an impact on their industry.

Plastic pollution today exceeds the limits of the planet’s surface by affecting marine ecosystems. It destroys biodiversity and seeps into our bodies. Recent studies have revealed traces of microplastics in human breast milk and even in the reproductive tract. At the same time, the climate impacts are undeniable: 5% of global CO₂ emissions are due to plastic production, or twice those of air traffic.

Also read – Plastic waste: who are the main culprits?

Perspectives: a treaty in danger?

A few days before the end of the negotiations, the chances of reaching an ambitious agreement remain uncertain. The current 70-page draft satisfies neither France nor its partners. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, warned: “We will not accept a treaty that does not reduce plastic production. »

However, a compromise could push decisions to future sessions, delaying action in the face of a global crisis. If nations cannot agree, the cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of necessary action. The planet, biodiversity and human health depend on it.

Today, negotiators from around the world are meeting in Busan to develop a Global Plastics Treaty.

This session aims to strengthen efforts to eliminate plastic pollution, protect our health, support economies and preserve the planet.

— United Nations Environment Program (@UNEP_Francais) November 25, 2024

In South Korea, the success of K-pop also contributes to the increase in plastic pollution

South Korea, where international negotiations on the fight against plastic pollution are taking place, is not an example in terms of plastic management, the fault of the meteoric rise of K-pop. In fact, theK-pop labels continue to sell massive CDs in South Korea through attractive marketing strategies, such as photo cards and video call vouchers. These tactics, described as “marketing exploitation” by some fans, are fueling frenzied consumption and raising environmental concerns.
In 2023, sales exceeded 100 million copies for the first time, despite a significant environmental impact. Albums, often made of polycarbonate and difficult to recycle, generate a significant carbon footprint. Although efforts are being made to use more environmentally friendly materials, penalties imposed by the South Korean government remain insufficient to curb this trend. Fans, attached to their artists, however rule out a boycott.

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Why and how to recycle plastic?

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