[Young journalist Oh Sihyun] On the 15th, Reuters reported that the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), which had been held in Geneva, Switzerland, ended without any consequences. The meeting was organized to establish a plastic regulation treaty. 185 countries had participated and discussions continued continued even beyond the scheduled date, but the negotiations had failed to reach an agreement. 

The main point of the argument was the mandatory reduction of plastic production. The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), which includes the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Canada, and a number of countries in Africa and Latin America, tried to include provisions in the treaty that aimed at reducing plastic production and phasing out toxic chemicals used in plastics. However, oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia opposed the proposal. Since the primary materials for plastics are obtained from fossil fuels, which include oil, coal, and gas, these countries were concerned that reducing plastic production could lead to economic damage. Instead, they assert that the problem of pollution should be addressed by strengthening waste management and promoting recycling instead of diminishing production. 

The Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which include 39 countries, including the Maldives and Tuvalu, that are suffering from the exorbitant damage caused by plastic pollution, manifested frustration over the failure to reach an agreement once again. They state that “It is unfair that SIDS are bearing the impact of a global environmental crisis, to which we have contributed very little.”

Reuters reported that while some countries, including the United Kingdom, assert that further negotiations are necessary, others maintain that additional discussions would be meaningless. Earlier, in March 2022, the international community had agreed to establish a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution by 2024 at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), but the commitment has not been implemented. 

Globally, it is estimated that more than 400 million tons of plastic are newly produced every year. From this amount, 46% ends up in landfills, 17% is incinerated, and the remaining 22% remains as mismanaged waste. Only 15% of plastic is collected for recycling, but the actual rate is reported as only 9%.

▶원문 기사: 제네바 '플라스틱 감축' 합의 불발…사우디·러시아·이란 등 산유국 반대 (2025. 8. 15)

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