Part 8/10:
The negotiations at Busan will see two opposing factions:
The High Ambition Coalition, led by Rwanda and Norway, pushing for comprehensive interventions across the entire plastic lifecycle, including production reductions by 40% by 2040.
The Global Coalition for Plastic Sustainability, backed by petrochemical nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia, which seeks to downplay the urgency of plastic production reduction, favoring localized voluntary measures instead.
Scientists and environmental groups advocate firmly for upstream action—reducing plastic production as central to any legislative action. However, the pushback from oil-dependent nations and industries could complicate discussions, echoing historical resistance to similar environmental regulations.