INC-5 Day 5: November 29, 2024
GAIA’s Statement on the Chair’s Non Paper 4
Busan, South Korea– After days of halting progress in plastics treaty negotiations (INC-5), the facilitators of the four contact groups where negotiations are taking place delivered proposed text to the Chair of the INC. The chair then released a new iteration of a draft (“non paper”) this afternoon, meant to become a basis for negotiations in the final two days of INC-5.
Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director of GAIA, states:
“The Chair’s latest non paper shows multiple paths that a treaty could take. One would be historic– for the first time, the text includes the option for a plastic production cap, a testament to the 103 countries and a united civil society demanding its inclusion.
The other path looks grim. A weak, non-binding treaty with an anemic financial mechanism, the illogical removal of chemicals of concern, no meaningful language on health, human rights, or rights of Indigenous Peoples, an open door to false solutions like waste incineration, and a free pass to some of the most polluting industries.
The secretive, behind-the-scenes “informals” that precipitated this non paper clearly show that the Chair is playing favorites– catering to the few bad-faith countries and lobbyists in the room while excluding civil society, rights holders, and Global South countries leading ambition on the treaty.
A bad process does not lead to a good outcome. In order to land the plastics treaty needed to beat the existential threat of plastic pollution, countries championing ambition must not bow to arbitrary time-pressures and the few bullies calling for “consensus” over justice. They must be willing to break the deadlock and insist on voting for the treaty the majority of Member States support, and if necessary, be willing to walk away from a bad deal. As long as ambitious countries hold to their principles, civil society will have their backs.”
Contact:
Claire Arkin, Global Communications Lead
claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869
References:
- GAIA Press Kit
- GAIA INC-5 Booklet (policy briefings and recommendations)
For more information about GAIA’s treaty advocacy, please visit no-burn.org/unea-plastics-treaty, follow us on LinkedIn, and read our Press kit.
