India Rejects Regulation of Primary Plastic Polymer Production at Global Treaty Meeting

India has expressed its opposition to regulating the production of primary plastic polymers, citing concerns over development rights. This stance emerged as a global meeting in Busan, South Korea, aimed at finalising a treaty to tackle plastic pollution, concluded without reaching an agreement. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's fifth meeting ended with India highlighting that some country suggestions were missing from the draft text.

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India's lead negotiator, Naresh Pal Gangwar, emphasised that the treaty should solely address plastic pollution without overlapping with other international agreements. He urged for this clarity to be reinstated in the draft. "India would like to state its inability to support any measures to regulate the production of primary plastic polymers as it has larger implications in respect of the right to development of member states," Gangwar stated.

Plastic Production and Trade Concerns

India also voiced concerns about certain articles in the draft that could have trade implications, requiring careful consideration. The country opposed setting timelines for phasing out plastics at this stage. It called for financial and technical assistance, including technology transfer, to aid developing nations in implementing the treaty's provisions.

The proposal included creating a dedicated multilateral fund to help these countries cover compliance costs. India stressed that the treaty must consider national circumstances, uphold development rights, and recognise differing responsibilities based on countries' capacities.

Global Negotiations and Unresolved Issues

The weeklong talks revealed significant divisions between countries advocating for limits on plastic production and harmful chemicals and those focused on managing plastic waste. Nearly 200 nations engaged in closed-door discussions on Saturday to resolve key issues, but Sunday's draft left most concerns unaddressed.

Countries have agreed to reconvene next year to continue negotiations. The lack of consensus highlights the challenges in balancing environmental concerns with economic and developmental priorities among nations.

The discussions aimed at finalising a treaty to combat plastic pollution ended without an agreement on Sunday. Critical issues such as capping plastic production and finance remained unresolved, underscoring the complexity of reaching a global consensus on environmental policies.