"2024 International Agreement on Plastic Regulation Established"... First Meeting Held in Uruguay

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Min-jae] The first meeting to establish an international agreement on plastic pollution regulation was held in Uruguay.

On the 3rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from the 28th of last month to the 2nd of this month, the 1st Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to draft a legally binding international agreement on plastic pollution.

About 2,500 participants attended the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting, including representatives from approximately 160 countries and stakeholders, as well as Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

From Korea, a delegation led by Han Min-young, Director of the Climate Environment Science Diplomacy Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The Korean government delegation urged the establishment of an agreement promoting a circular economy in accordance with the UNEP resolution to comprehensively address plastic pollution throughout the entire lifecycle from production to waste management. They also expressed their hope that the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting would be held in Korea in the second half of 2024.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that participants deeply empathized with the seriousness of plastic pollution and emphasized that there is not much time left until 2024 to finalize the agreement, pledging to do their best to draft the agreement.

Countries discussed ▲ the scope, purpose, and structure of the agreement ▲ key obligations, regulations, voluntary measures, and national action plans ▲ implementation mechanisms ▲ implementation review and monitoring ▲ scientific and technological cooperation ▲ and multi-stakeholder participation methods.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Environment Programme decided to establish a new international agreement on plastic pollution at its 5th meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, last March.