Plastic-free planet: Like-minded group of countries demand changes to zero draft

The inaugural day of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to combat plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments, opened with a powerful address from Kenya’s President William Ruto. Delegates, gathered to forge a legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, received a stark reminder from President Ruto of the alarming reality: The world is generating close to 400 million tonnes of plastic annually, a figure that could triple if business continues as usual.

The President highlighted the disconcerting statistics of plastic waste mismanagement: Less than 10 per cent is recycled, 46 per cent ends up in landfills, 22 per cent is mismanaged and 17 per cent is incinerated. Equally alarming is the fact that over 23 million tonnes of plastic waste infiltrate our water bodies each year.

Ruto emphasised the interconnectedness of plastics and climate change, cautioning that by 2030, plastic could contribute up to 19 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Read more: Go circular to end plastic pollution, UNEP report urges ahead of global meet

As the committee commenced its work, the chair strategically pointed out that provisional application of the draft rules of procedure, especially Rule 38.1, requires further discussion. Rule 38.1, a subject of debate at the previous INC meeting in Paris, became a focal point. India, opposing its adoption, hinted at potentially obstructing progress if invoked before the final adoption of the rules of procedure.

Iran’s announcement of the Global Coalition for Plastic Sustainability in the preparatory meeting did not gain unanimous support. The coalition’s status was quickly diluted to that of a “like-minded group”.

However, interventions from Iran on behalf of these like-minded countries found support from nations such as Russia, India, Cuba, and Western Asian countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Iraq. This coalition advocated for a legally binding instrument focused on waste management to “limit the damage on plastic-producing countries”.

Read more: Plastic-free planet: Third session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee begins in Nairobi

The zero draft, a key document prepared by the Chair in consultation with the INC secretariat, faced criticism from like-minded countries. They accused the draft of overreaching beyond the mandate of United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5 / 14. While some member states welcomed the draft, eager to delve into negotiations, others expressed reservations.

Negotiations will pivot around the zero draft and the synthesis report developed by co-facilitators during the preparatory meeting. The zero draft is expected to undergo changes throughout the negotiation process. Unfortunately, the first day did not progress to contact group discussions, prompting the chair to propose three contact groups to facilitate significant progress and develop a more mature draft for the fourth meeting.

Read more: Delay tactics: Outcomes of Paris plastic meet 2023 were far from expectations; here is why

These contact groups will address specific sections of the zero draft:

• One group will review parts I (text on the objective) and part II of the annex, making recommendations on the text of the instrument;
• A second group will review parts III and IV of the annex, making recommendations on the text of the instrument;
• A third group will review the document UNEP / PP / INC.3 / INF / 1 and the summary of the preparatory meeting, identifying possible elements not discussed at the second session for inclusion in parts I, V, and VI of the draft. This group will also identify any related intersessional work required for the fourth and fifth sessions.

As the negotiations progress into day two, discussions are expected to commence in plenary, with a likelihood of spilling over into the contact groups. The journey towards a comprehensive and impactful agreement to tackle plastic pollution is underway, with challenges and divergent opinions shaping the narrative of this critical global initiative.

Read more:

• Plastic-free planet: Evolution of Global Plastics Treaty
• Plastic-free planet: Negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty underway, the story so far
• Plastic-free planet: Recycling increases toxicity of plastics, warns Greenpeace study
• Plastic-free planet: Geopolitics slows progress on Day 1 of Paris meet
• Plastic-free planet: Members struggle to reach consensus on rules of procedure
• Plastic-free planet: Discussions on elements finally begin at Day 3 of Paris meet
• Plastic-free planet: Paris meet ends after severe delays, with proposal for zero draft text