There is still an impasse in Pusan, South Korea, in negotiations aimed at establishing the first international treaty against plastic pollution. And the tone is rising from countries in favor of an ambitious agreement, who are pointing the finger at a small group of States, a few hours before the deadline.
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“We are concerned about the continued obstruction of countries”declared the French Minister of Energy, Olga Givernet, Sunday 1is December, during a press conference alongside delegates from Panama, Mexico, Fiji, Rwanda and the European Union (EU). “A small minority” of countries “block the process”accused the delegate of Fiji, Sivendra Michael. “If you do not join us in obtaining an ambitious treaty (…) then go! “, he said to this minority.
“If we don't get an ambitious treaty in Pusan, it will be a global betrayal (…) History will not forgive us for this. It’s time to act, or leave”launched the head of the Panamanian delegation, Juan Carlos Monterrey.
The deadline is approaching
Frustration grew throughout the week within the “Coalition of High Ambitions”, made up of around sixty countries in favor of a strong treaty tackling the entire “life cycle” of plastic. , from production to waste.
This coalition opposes a small group of countries, mainly oil producers led by Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran, who believe that the future treaty should only concern waste management and recycling. A possibility that the majority do not want to hear about. “It is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty”said the delegate from this country, Juliet Kabera.
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This press conference took place as the deadline approaches to find an agreement on a binding text in Pusan, set for Sunday evening or early Monday morning, after two years of negotiations. But no representatives from countries like China and the United States, the world's top two plastic producers, nor from Russia or other oil-producing countries were present at the press conference.
“I hope they will join us”declared to Agence France-Presse (AFP) the head of the Mexican delegation, Camila Zepeda, stressing that the coalition of ambitious countries was “an open invitation”. “Both China and the United States want a treaty and are involved in the negotiations constructively”German delegate Sebastian Unger told AFP, confirming the stories of a large number of other diplomats.
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More than a hundred countries have joined a proposal from Panama to set in stone the principle of a reduction in plastic production, requested by the most demanding countries, while postponing the question of quantified objectives until later.
A sixth round of negotiations envisaged
Some, like Panama or Fiji, would like to expel from the negotiations countries that oppose any reduction in production. Others raise the possibility of submitting a treaty including this provision to a vote, instead of adoption by consensus as is generally the rule for this type of major UN agreement.
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“I think if we have to have a vote, we won't have any problems. We are the majoritydeclared the Portuguese delegate, Maria Joao Teixeira. But a treaty without petrochemical producers, without industries will not be as effective as we want. »
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As the day progresses on Sunday, the distribution of a preliminary draft text (a “non-paper” in diplomatic jargon) initially promised for the evening before by the diplomat who chairs the negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, is being made always wait. Some delegates raise the possibility that the conference will end without a treaty. The Pusan Convention Center, where the meetings take place, is in any case rented for another event starting on Monday.
“I think some of us already have in mind” a new meeting after Pusan to continue negotiating, said Mme Teixeira. “We hope for consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but it is possible to reach a critical mass to move forward”estimated Mme Zepeda, the Mexican delegate. She also did not rule out the organization of a sixth round of negotiations after the Pusan meeting, which she does not consider to be “a failure, because we have a coalition of a large majority of countries that are ready to move forward. »
“Concluding a treaty in two years is very ambitiousestimated Mme Zepeda. Maybe we'll need a new edition later, but for now it's not over (…) We believe there is still time. »
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