Standoff at the four-way stop sign: late-night diplomacy at the fourth session of negotiations (INC-4) on the global treaty to end plastic pollution

Abstract

Within the final session of negotiations inching forward, the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) completed its fourth session of negotiations (out of five) on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) to “end plastic pollution.” This paper examines the results of the fourth session of negotiations INC-4, which took place from April 23 to 29th, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada. In this perspective paper, we analyze the trends, barriers, and themes shaping the emerging treaty text. Progress towards consensus on financial mechanisms and waste management was prevalent. This paper is based on close participant observations and document analysis throughout the negotiations, it became apparent that nearly all of the core obligations of the treaty came into brackets, which means states do not agree on text. There was additional divergence when it came to the inclusion of the production side of plastics in the treaty. We conclude by looking towards the fifth and expected final session round of negotiations in Busan, South Korea, in December 2024 by discussing if and how the plastic treaty will be effective when the full life cycle starting from production is not taken into account.