The Pivotal Role of Science in Shaping a Global Plastics Treaty
As the world grapples with the escalating plastic pollution crisis, the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) meeting for a Global Plastics Treaty marked a pivotal moment in the quest for a healthier planet – for people and the environment. Delegates from 175 countries met in Ottawa, Canada, alongside NGOs, scientists, and industry lobbyists, to shape this landmark treaty.
Ottawa’s iconic Shaw Centre became a bustling hub for the plastics conversation. Break Free From Plastic, Indigenous Peoples, and frontline communities led a March to End the Plastic Era, while the plastics industry held signs and drove trucks promoting the “benefits” of single-use plastic. Artist Ben Von Wong’s Giant Plastic Tap served as a focal point – a stark visual looming in front of negotiations as a constant reminder of the plastic that continues to flow.
Leading with Science
The 5 Gyres Institute played a unique role in the negotiations. Our goal is to serve as an Honest Broker, bridging the gap between industry, research, and policy, to offer fact-based and vetted solutions. As part of The Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, our researchers guided delegates in negotiating a strong treaty grounded in the latest science.
The Scientists’ Coalition is a network of 350 scientific and technical experts from 60 countries that supports decision-makers leading up to and during treaty negotiations. During negotiations at INC-4, a team of dedicated scientists on the ground offered summaries and interpretations of scientific knowledge to delegates, and intervened during the treaty debates when scientific information was lacking or misinformed.
Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development
Research on the impact of plastic and plastic pollution has grown in recent years, and alongside our colleagues, 5 Gyres contributes new knowledge to the scientific literature. Our updated Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution revealed a plastic smog of more than 170 trillion plastic particles afloat on the ocean’s surface; Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez warns we are outside the safe planetary boundary for pollutants, including plastics; and in the middle of INC-4, a paper co-published by 5 Gyres Institute, Break Free From Plastic, and 12 universities, confirms a direct correlation between plastic production and plastic pollution.
The science is clear. The Scientists’ Coalition agrees that an effective Plastics Treaty should:
Include production reduction targets that are time-bound and legally binding.
Represent a full life cycle approach, starting with extraction and production.
Establish criteria to determine essential uses of plastics (i.e. medical, technology) and develop sector-specific strategies.
Establish criteria to ensure that remaining plastics are safer and more sustainable via chemical simplification and design standards.
Prioritize reduction and reuse systems over recycling.
Recognize the global nature of the plastics value chain (extraction, production, trade, waste) and the transboundary nature of plastic pollution.
Insider Insights from INC-4
5 Gyres’ researchers, Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Dr. Lisa Erdle, joined INC-4 as delegates, providing the unique opportunity to observe negotiations among member states, attend side events, and serve as a scientific resource for decision-makers.
Several countries are taking the threats of plastic pollution seriously, forming the High-Ambition Coalition. These 66 countries favor majority voting, legally binding measures, production caps, design standards, and transparency in production and waste management. On the other end of the spectrum, the Like-Minded Countries advocate for consensus voting, voluntary participation, no production caps, an emphasis on waste management and recycling, and no chemical disclosures. This group is made up of primarily oil-producing countries, including China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), faced with the unique issue of plastic from the global waste trade dumped in their countries, share a unified message about the burden of cost to remove and manage waste. Other groups include the European Union, Group of Latin American Countries (GURLAC), and African Region (except Egypt). The United States hasn’t formally aligned with any of the groups.
The influence of the fossil fuel industry at INC-4 was apparent. An analysis of INC-4 participants showed that 196 lobbyists for the fossil fuel, petrochemical, and plastics industries were registered, outnumbering each member state delegation, the present members of the Scientists’ Coalition, and the Indigenous Peoples Caucus.
What’s Next?
The fifth and final negotiating session is set to take place in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November 2024. Crucial intersessional work will occur leading up to INC-5, and we anticipate delay tactics and obstacles from industry and low-ambition delegations.
While the effort is far from over, the world has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn off the tap and pave the way for a healthier, thriving future for people and the planet. By leading with science, we can finalize a strong, legally binding agreement that ends plastic pollution. 5 Gyres will continue doing research and sharing our work to make this vision a reality.