Why did Global Plastic Treaty talks collapse?

Global plastic treaty talks failed to reach a consensus at the 5th meeting of the United Nations(UN) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea.

A resolution adopted in 2022 at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi aimed to establish global rules to curb plastic pollution by the end of 2024, but nations were unable to reach an agreement.

The delegations agreed that another session would be scheduled in 2025, tentatively being called “INC-5.2,” to finalize the treaty.

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Why did the Global Plastic Treaty Talks Failed to Reach a Consensus?

Limits on Plastic Production: A central issue of contention was whether countries should agree to targets for reducing the production of virgin plastic polymers (made from raw materials derived from petroleum).

Virgin plastic refers to plastic material that has not been previously used or recycled. It is in its original, pure form, manufactured directly from raw plastic resins.

A group of 66 countries, led by Norway and Rwanda, along with the European Union, argue for capping plastic production to control the environmental impact of plastics.

Nations like Saudi Arabia and India, which rely heavily on petrochemicals and plastic production for their economies, opposed any measures that would limit production.

Development Concerns: India argued that regulating plastic production would infringe upon its right to development, especially given the country’s role in the global plastic polymer market.

Associated Points :

More Plastic Per Person:

A little over 10,000 tonnes a day of plastic waste remains uncollected. India’s position was that any treaty should not undermine national growth aspirations.

What is India Doing for Plastic Waste Management?

National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management:

India launched a nationwide awareness campaign on single-use plastics on World Environment Day in June 2022.

A mobile app for Single Use Plastics Grievance Redressal was also launched to empower citizens to check sale/usage/manufacturing of SUP in their area and tackle the plastic menace.

Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022:

It prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of several single-use plastic items as of July 1, 2022.

It has also mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that incorporates circularity by making manufacturers of products responsible for collecting and processing their products upon the end of the product’s lifetime.

India Plastics Pact:

It is the first of its kind in Asia. The Plastics Pact is an ambitious and collaborative initiative to bring stakeholders together to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics within the material’s value chain.

Mascot ‘Prakriti’:

To spread awareness among the masses about small changes that can be sustainably adopted in lifestyle for a better environment.

Project REPLAN:

Project REPLAN (stands for Reducing Plastic in Nature) launched by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) aims to reduce the consumption of plastic bags by providing a more sustainable alternative.

In India, ‘extend producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following? (2019)

(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998

(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999

(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011