Final Round of Negotiations on Global Plastic Treaty Begins in South Korea

Busan, South Korea – 25 November 2024 – After the 4^th meeting (INC-4) held in Ottawa, Canada, delegates and observers have gathered again in South Korea for the final round of negotiations on the Global Plastic Treaty (INC-5).

This pivotal session will take place from November 25 to December 1, 2024, aiming at the development of a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including its impact on the marine environment. Also CCB, along with other civil society organizations from across the globe – such as its Member Organization the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation - are actively engaged in these negotiations.

In her opening statement, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, remarked:
“Today marks one thousand days since the historic UNEA resolution greenlighting these negotiations. While some multilateral agreements have taken decades to finalize, this represents good progress. However, plastic pollution operates on a different timescale. Some plastics take up to one thousand years to decompose. Even then, they break down into smaller particles that persist, pervade, and pollute.

This pollution harms the natural systems and species we rely on, hampers our ability to adapt to climate change, damages ecosystem resilience, and blocks drainage systems in cities. It very likely also harms human health. Furthermore, the continued growth of plastic production emits greenhouse gases, pushing us closer to climate disaster.”

Eugeniy Lobanov, CCB Hazardous Substances Working Area Leader, emphasizes the critical moment the negotiation process is currently living:
“We are at a crucial juncture, with sharp differences in interests among groups of Member States. It is imperative to craft a Treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, including upstream activities such as production and content regulation. Managing plastic waste alone will never suffice.

Another vital element is the inclusion of health provisions in the treaty. The INC must retain references to protecting human health and the environment, maintaining the objective of safeguarding both through this instrument.”

Campaigners, businesses, and members of the High Ambition Coalition—an alliance comprising EU member states and southern hemisphere nations where much of the world’s waste is dumped or incinerated—support production limits as the most effective way to curb plastic waste and encourage recycling.

The EU’s Role in Tackling Plastic Waste

In the European Union, upcoming regulations aim to shift the responsibility for managing plastic and other packaging waste onto the companies that produce it.

The revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, an update to a 1994 EU Regulation, is expected to come into force next year. Under this directive, every EU country will be required to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to achieve a 5% reduction in waste by 2030 and a 15% reduction by 2040.

Lawmakers have also agreed to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030 and to ban certain single-use packaging items, such as lightweight plastic bags and condiment sachets, by the same deadline.

Progress in Negotiations

Since its inception in 2022, the INC has convened four times (INC-1, INC-2, INC-3, and INC-4), overcoming initial procedural challenges and advancing to text-based negotiations based on a draft compilation of the future treaty.

During INC-5, the Committee is expected to divide into four contact groups to address key issues:

Plastic Products and Production: Including chemicals of concern, product design, and supply chain aspects.
Plastic Waste Management: Covering emissions, releases, existing pollution (including in marine environments), and just transitions.
Finance and International Cooperation: Establishing financial mechanisms, capacity building, technical assistance, technology transfer, and cooperative efforts.
Implementation and Compliance: Addressing national plans, reporting, monitoring progress, evaluating effectiveness, sharing information, and raising awareness through education and research.

-END

***

Article written by Eugeniy Lobanov, CCB Hazardous Substances Working Area Leader

Further Information

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Petition launched to stop new oil and gas drilling in the Baltic Sea

By CCB • October 3, 2025

3 October 2025 - Coalition Clean Baltic, together with its Member Organization BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany and the citizens’ initiative “ Lebensraum Vorpommern ”, have launched a petition to stop new oil and gas drilling projects in the Baltic Sea . The petition comes in response to plans to exploit a deposit just 6 km offshore Świnoujście , Poland, in the transboundary waters of the Oder Estuary and Pomeranian Bay. The planned site lies at the heart of NATURA 2000 protected areas , which are vital for biodiversity, climate action, and local communities. Oil and gas extraction in the Baltic Sea poses severe threats to its fragile ecosystems. Industrial activities such as drilling, pipeline construction, and ship traffic risk polluting the water with chemicals, oil leaks, and toxic waste. Underwater noise from pile driving and increased traffic would further degrade marine habitats. These pressures add to the already critical challenges faced by the Baltic Sea, including biodiversity loss, eutrophication, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. The consequences extend far beyond nature. Local communities rely on a clean and healthy Baltic for tourism, fishing, and quality of life. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure would also undermine Europe’s climate commitments and lock in carbon emissions for decades to come. The petition calls on the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the European Commission, and the Secretariat of the Espoo Convention to : Stop the plans for oil and gas extraction in the Oder Estuary and the Pomeranian Bay; Ban any new oil and gas extraction across the Baltic Sea; Ensure strong cross-border cooperation and communication amongst all involved states. The petition is open through the WeMove Europe´s platform and can be signed here .

(Closed) Job vacancy: Coalition Campaign Manager - Common Fisheries Policy

By CCB • October 1, 2025

Job Title: Coalition Campaign Manager - Common Fisheries Policy Position type : Full-time consultancy contract. Open to part-time arrangements initially if needed. Contract duration: Short-term contract until end of March 2026, with possibility of extension subject to funding availability Reports to: Steering Committee Location : Flexible(remote/home office) with regular travel. Working in Brussels is of advantage. Starting date : ASAP In close cooperation with the Steering Group of the coalition, lead, plan, coordinate, and support the campaign of an NGO network working together towards the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the evaluation thereof. The campaign manager's responsibility is to develop and ensure the successful and timely delivery of political advocacy and public engagement activities of the campaign, both at EU and Member State level. Job description Strategy & Planning Develop and implement short-, and long-term campaign strategies aligned with coalition objectives, in close cooperation with the Steering Group. Set clear goals, timelines, and performance indicators for the campaign and ensure timely delivery thereof. Analyse policy development, political climate, media and public opinion, and stakeholder landscapes to inform tactics. Campaign Delivery Manage day-to-day execution of the campaign activities at Brussels and Member State level. Coordinate coalition partners and ensure communication between Steering Group and coalition members, as well as relevant groups/coalitions/experts and other stakeholders outside the coalition. Advise coalition members on strategic delivery of advocacy activities at all levels, including Member State level. Join Steering Group meetings in an advisory capacity. Report back to the Steering Group on the delivery of the campaign's activities, meeting of targets and milestones, and report back on activities, budget and impact. Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, key stakeholders, and allies to support campaign aims. Analyse opportunities of engagement, advise on policy language. Organise/coordinate/prepare and support relevant activities, including events, briefings, and advocacy activities in close cooperation with coalition members. Ensure relevant knowledge management and information flow within the coalition and across partner organisations. Liaise with communication experts on message framing, strategy and timelines. Management Support CCB administrative and finance staff managing grants to coalition partners. Ensure coalition partners receive information and materials that enable them to effectively contribute to achieving campaign goals (political information, policy briefings, templates, policy language, opportunity analyses). Support fundraising efforts as needed/requested by the Steering Group. Lead on funders narrative reporting. Qualifications & Skills required The consultant must be legally authorised to provide services and work as a consultant within the EU, based in an EU Member State. Fisheries and ocean expertise (preferred), or other environmental background. Degree (or equivalent experience) in communications/campaign management, political science, resource management, fisheries, or related field. Proven track record in designing and delivering successful advocacy or public campaigns at EU or Member State levels involving a larger coalition. Strong understanding of political processes at EU level and Member State levels, media landscapes, and public engagement. Excellent project management and organisational skills. Skilled communicator and coordinator, able to craft persuasive messages and engage a larger network into a common goal within tight deadlines. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Fluency in English is required; additional EU languages are a plus. Application Should you be interested in applying for this assignment, please send your CV (max. 2 pages) together with a personal letter (max. 1 page) before 9 October 2025 , COB, to secretariat@ccb.se Please include your consultancy rate in your application inclusive VAT (if applicable). Applications should be submitted in English. Incomplete applications (e.g. lacking either CV or personal letter) will not be considered . Any inquiries related to this assignment should be forwarded to the above email or to CCB Executive Secretary Mikhail Durkin at mikhail.durkin@ccb.se and +46 739 770 793. In the application and hiring process, CCB will not discriminate against any individual based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, disability, age, family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, economic and social situation. .