### Breakthrough in Plastic Treaty Talks Looms as Nations Push for Production Reductions

Significant pressure from a coalition of over 100 countries has rekindled hopes of a breakthrough in the longstanding international plastic treaty negotiations. After two years of deadlock, a resolution may finally be on the horizon, although fragile progress remains vulnerable as talks enter a decisive weekend phase.

For a considerable duration, discussions have been mired in division over whether the treaty should mandate a reduction in plastic production—essentially a cap on plastic output. The recently published draft text of the final agreement includes a proposal for a global target to curb plastic production. However, it also presents an alternative option of taking no action to restrict global plastic production. The ultimate wording is set to be decided upon this weekend.

As plastic production continues to escalate with projections indicating it could triple by 2050, environmental and human health pressures mount. Microplastics and plastic-related chemicals have been discovered in human tissues, ranging from placentas to breast milk. Research underscores the necessity of global production controls in mitigating plastic pollution.

The negotiations in Busan, South Korea, mark the fifth and potentially final meeting in a two-year UN initiative aimed at drafting a comprehensive treaty addressing the full lifecycle of plastic pollution. Hopes are pinned on finalizing the treaty text by Sunday. A progressive draft has been gaining traction, backed by 102 nations, spearheaded by the Pacific Small Island Developing States and Panama, and supported by the European Union's 27 members and 38 African countries.

Dennis Clare, a legal adviser for the Federated States of Micronesia, highlighted the significance of this united front. "This treaty is not about the negotiators. This treaty is about the people of today, the people of tomorrow. It's not about the industries of the previous century. It's about minimizing human suffering," Clare noted.

Nevertheless, a minority cluster, referred to as the Low Ambition Coalition, has been attempting to exclude production cuts from the treaty. Nations like Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, based on their public statements and shared documents, prefer managing pollution through waste management rather than restricting production. Concerns have emerged that industry lobbyists within these delegations are swaying national positions and potentially undermining the treaty's ambition.

Clare underscored the uncertainty around securing an ambitious text on production cuts. The gridlock has been exacerbated by efforts to reach consensus, a common challenge in multilateral environmental agreements. Earlier disagreements over voting procedures have also hampered potential resolutions.

In light of the deadlock, civil society groups in Busan have called for "courage not compromise," urging the coalition of ambitious nations to utilize all procedural avenues to achieve the desired treaty outcomes. Panama's delegation signaled their willingness to challenge the Low Ambition Coalition. "We seek their leadership, we want their leadership. But if they're not willing to lead, please—leave it to the rest of us, and get out of our way," said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, Panama's special representative for climate change.

With high stakes as countries reconvene on Saturday to discuss the latest draft, doubts linger about meeting the Sunday deadline. However, optimism persists that the international alliances formed could yield a treaty that benefits the planet.

Sivendra Michael, Fiji's permanent secretary for the ministry of environment and climate change, expressed cautious optimism. "I feel that we should be optimistic, even if my heart is giving up in those negotiating rooms," he said. "That's what fuels my hope. Because there's a great lot of countries that want to see the betterment of this planet."