Negotiators from around 170 countries have recently attended UN talks in Paris to discuss reducing plastic pollution. The meeting was surrounded by a wave of lobbying by petrochemical companies. The negotiators have agreed to produce a draft treaty to cut plastic waste; however, discussions are ongoing over issues such as whether the treaty will be legally binding and whether it will impose production limits on plastic petrochemical companies. A group of 130 countries wants binding rules, but fossil fuel-producers such as the US, Russia, and China want a voluntary system where states are free to set up their own frameworks.
Countries that want binding rules include Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and much of Europe; companies such as Unilever, Nestle, and PepsiCo also back this stricter approach. These companies supported the introduction of standardized rules concerning the entire life cycle of plastics. It would involve limiting production, recycling, and phasing out harmful chemicals. Emma Priestland of Break Free From Plastic commented that companies need harmonized rules, but she did not foresee major changes to their business models taking place.
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Mondelēz, and Unilever have been identified by environmental campaigning organization Break Free from Plastic, as the companies responsible for producing the highest amount of plastic pollution. The American Chemistry Council, which represents the petrochemical industry, has lobbied for non-production-limiting solutions to reduce waste, such as waste management and recycling. The ACC also highlighted the need for the medical, transport, and aerospace sectors to continue using plastics.
Activists have warned that the petrochemical industry’s lobbying may result in the treaty being watered down. Graham Forbes of Greenpeace USA pointed out that the current risks could result in the treaty only becoming a waste management treaty. The first draft of the agreement is expected to be prepared by November, and countries will have until the end of 2022 to agree on the final treaty.
Summary
Negotiators from 170 countries met at the UN talks in Paris to discuss reducing plastic pollution. While campaigners wanted binding rules, petrochemical companies lobbied for non-production-limiting solutions to reduce waste such as waste management and recycling. The first draft of the treaty will be ready by November and countries have until the end of 2022 to finalize terms. Environmentalists warn that the treaty could be watered down due to petrochemical companies’ lobbying and may only become a waste management treaty.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
Some 170 countries have been locked in tense negotiations on how to reduce plastic pollution after a week of UN talks in Paris surrounded by an industry lobbying frenzy.
Negotiators have agreed to develop a first draft treaty to reduce plastic pollution, but there are still divisions over issues such as whether the rules will be legally binding and whether they will limit the production of new plastics by petrochemical companies.
A group of 130 countries, including Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and much of Europe, want binding rules. But fossil fuel-producing countries like the US, Russia and China want a less ambitious voluntary system where countries are free to establish their own frameworks.
Limiting new production would be a major blow to the petrochemical industrywhich is becoming increasingly dependent on the growing demand for plastics in emerging economies as the world moves away from fossil fuels.
A coalition of companies has backed the tougher approach, including some of the world’s largest consumer groups such as Unilever, Nestle and PepsiCo, as well as retailers and packaging manufacturers. During the talks, they campaigned for standardized rules to address the entire lifecycle of plastics, including reducing production, reusing and recycling, and phasing out harmful chemicals.
Jodie Roussell, senior public relations manager for packaging and sustainability at Nestlé, said a legally binding agreement with harmonized rules was key. “Businesses recognize that ambitious goals and aspirations to end plastic pollution in a treaty have little value on their own,” she said on Saturday.
A binding treaty was needed to provide “regulatory predictability,” said Anke Boykin, senior director of global environmental policy at PepsiCo
But Emma Priestland of Break Free From Plastic said: “We understand that companies need harmonized rules and this is the best situation for them, but now we don’t see them changing much in their business models.”
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Mondelēz and Unilever are the companies that produce the most plastic pollution, according to the non-profit organization Break Free from Plastic.
Industry representatives lobbied hard on the Paris negotiations © REUTERS
The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry body representing the petrochemical sector, has advocated for solutions that would not require reduced production, such as waste management and recycling.
The ACC called for technological solutions such as chemical recycling and highlighted the need for the continued use of plastics in aerospace, transportation and medical applications.
“We’ve heard a lot about limiting production this week, but we’ve also heard a lot from governments about the role of plastics in achieving society’s goals,” said Stew Harris, ACC’s senior director for global plastics policy .
Activists have warned that lobbying by the petrochemical industry could result in a watered-down treaty.
Graham Forbes of Greenpeace USA said: “The general risk is that this treaty becomes a waste management treaty.”
Negotiations on the substance of the treaty only started on the third day of the Paris session after Saudi Arabia, Russia and China objected to the treaty being agreed by majority vote, rather than consensus. Consensus would mean that countries could veto its adoption.
The first draft of the treaty is expected to be produced by November and countries will have until the end of next year to finalize final terms.
Climate capital
Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the coverage of the FT here.
Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Learn more about our science goals here
https://www.ft.com/content/f9959759-1167-4d0a-a065-be04d074abfd
—————————————————-