Busan, South Korea — As plastics treaty negotiators try to reach a deal, more than 85 nations — including all 27 members of the European Union — made a last-minute push to include caps on plastic production in any deal.
Their maneuver came as the contentious talks involving more than 85 nations in the city of Busan hit a rough patch. Leaders canceled a planned open session on the evening of Nov. 29, instead choosing to huddle privately to seek compromises that some sources said had proved elusive thus far.
As well, a new official draft treaty framework was circulated to mixed reviews. It included production caps but it also seemed to drop or soften language regulating potentially toxic chemicals in plastics and "problematic" plastic applications.
Amid the uncertainty in the negotiating halls, the EU, France, Panama and other countries held a news conference to push for production caps.
"The time for freedom to pollute should be over," said Anthony Agotha, the EU's special envoy for climate and environment.
"This is not about demonizing plastic. We love plastic," he said. "It helps our cars and planes to be lighter, but we've got to get rid of the polluting plastic that is basically choking the oceans and ruining our health."
Late on Nov. 28, Panama filed a position paper on behalf of the 85-plus nations, saying they wanted the treaty to include an unspecified "global target to reduce the production of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels."
Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, the head of Panama's delegation, told reporters they are trying to find compromises with countries that oppose caps. Some major oil producing nations have been very vocal opponents of caps in the talks.
"We're seeking all the other delegations that have not moved a centimeter to also cross the bridge and meet halfway," he said. "We believe that the proposal put forward is that halfway, and the way forward is to negotiate."
Even if the Panamanian proposal is enacted, it could take several years to be implemented.
A proposal from island nations this week called for a 40 percent reduction target by 2040, but the new Panama plan instead tasks the first meeting of the treaty's implementation body, known as a conference of parties, to set the size and timing of reductions.
The talks have at times deadlocked over caps. The last public session, on Nov. 27, turned contentious as major oil and plastics producing countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia said they could not support a deal with caps.
If a compromise can't be reached, Gomez said the talks should be prepared to move from consensus-based decision making, which requires 100 percent agreement to adopt any measures, to voting.
"If it comes to voting, if there is not a full consensus, and we can go to a one country, one vote, we're also looking forward to that option, if it's on the table," he said.
The debate over caps played out in written submissions from countries over the past few days.
Qatar pointed to economic disruptions and higher costs from cuts in plastic production.
"These measures disproportionately impact developing countries, hindering their growth and resilience, while also stifling innovation and investments in circular economy initiatives," Qatar said.
Indonesia, too, said it opposed caps. It said it can produce only 55 percent of the plastic it needs domestically, and worried about rising prices and disruptions in its agricultural and medical sectors.
But developing countries also signed on to the Panama plan. Four Latin American countries — Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama — said an overcapacity of plastic production hurts the economics of recycling and is a disincentive to develop alternative materials.
They called for the first COP to set up a science body to determine reduction levels.
