[Press Release]
For Immediate Releaseㅣ12th September, 2024
Titleㅣ[Press Release] Korean Civil Society Calls for Government to Take Responsibility as a Major Plastic Producer, not Standing on the Sidelines
Press Conference Snapshotsㅣ11th September, 2024
Attachment 1ㅣPress Statement
Attachment 2ㅣSummary of Policy Inquiry on the Global Plastics Treaty
[Press Release]
Korean Civil Society Calls for Government to Take Responsibility as a Major Plastic Producer, not Standing on the Sidelines
- The government remains silent when questioned about its stance on the Global Plastic Treaty. The passive approach requires a shift
- Proactive participation in production reduction agenda is crucial for a successful Global Plastics Treaty
“Uproot Plastics” holding a press conference in Gwanghwamun, the heart of Seoul
- On September 11, the Uproot Plastics (a coalition organized by civil society groups based in Korea to ‘root out’ plastic problems) held a press conference urging the Korean government to take a strong stance in the upcoming 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (hereafter referred to as the ‘Global Plastics Treaty’).
- The Global Plastic Treaty aims to regulate the entire lifecycle of plastics through legally binding measures on a global scale, with 175 countries engaged in intense negotiations. The fifth and final session of these negotiations will take place in the second largest city of the Republic of Korea, Busan, this coming November. The key agenda is the reduction of plastic production. A number of UN member states have signed the ‘Bridge to Busan: Declaration on Primary Plastic Polymers’, agreeing to reduce primary plastic polymer production. Recently, the United States, the world’s largest producer of plastics and oil, expressed its support for including plastic production reduction in the Global Plastic Treaty.
- However, the Korean government has consistently avoided taking a clear stance on reducing plastic production, stating instead that it will approach the negotiation process to ensure the pet-chem industry can smoothly comply with international regulations. It has mainly focused on ‘downstream’ approaches e.g., plastic waste management, recycling, and the development of alternative materials, while sidestepping the issue of production reduction.
- In response to this passive attitude, the Uproot Plastics delivered key civil society proposals to the government and sent a policy inquiry requesting the government’s stance on major agendas of the agreement, such as production reduction, reuse, and the polluter pays principle. The coalition seeks to confirm the government’s position and urges proactive action. However the four relevant ministries - the Ministry of Environment; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy - have all declined to provide specific positions, citing concerns over revealing diplomatic strategies.
- During the speeches by participating organizations, Froilan Grate, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, emphasized that without production reduction, a successful treaty is unattainable. He also pointed out that more than 40 countries have signed the ‘Bridge to Busan’ declaration on reducing primary polymer production reduction in the negotiation process. Grate urged the Korean government, as the host of the 5th negotiation session, to not only work towards fundamental solutions through production reduction but also demonstrate strong leadership amongst member states.
- KIM Won, Director of Center for Chemicals Safety and Health Research at the Wonjin Institution for Occupational and Environmental Health, shared the results of a study on how much Korean citizens are exposed to hazardous chemicals derived from plastics. “Phthalate plasticizers and perfluorochemicals (PFASs) used in plastics were detected in the urine and blood of all the citizens who participated in the study,” he reported. Kim stressed that protecting public health, nature, and the environment from the tens of thousands of chemicals and thousands of hazardous substances used in plastics can only be achieved through strict regulation by groups and production reduction under the Global Plastics Treaty.
- Following this, LEE Ha Kyung, the chairperson of the zero-waste shop and coop ‘Sanzero’ in Bucheon, Korea, highlighted the challenges faced by small businesses that promote multi-use and refillable products, due to the rollback of environmental policies and the relaxation of regulations on single-use plastics in Korea. She emphasized that beyond individual efforts, there is an urgent need for governmental systems and support to promote multi-use products and refilling system. Lee also criticized the Korean government for focusing merely on waste management, despite the fact that “Plastic’s carbon emission figures take up to 45% when measured from production to disposal,” when viewed from a full lifecycle perspective.
- KANG Wujeong, an activist from Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN) pointed out that the microplastic pollution levels in the South Sea of Korea are among the highest in the world. She shared that ongoing research continues to uncover that harmful environmental substances released from microplastics disrupt normal hormonal systems and lead to conditions such as uterine diseases and menstrual pain, which disproportionately affect the health of women. She reiterated that within the context of an unequal structure, individual choices are inherently limited, and environmental justice must be considered. For fundamental change and to break the vicious circle of plastic pollution, it is critical to implement changes at the production stage.
- An activist from the Green Environment Youth Korea, GEYK, conveyed the concerns of the younger generation, noting that plastics, used extensively for convenience, will remain on the planet for longer than the current generation, destroying ecosystems and threatening human health. The activist emphasized that the decisions for the future now hinge on the Global Plastics Treaty.
- Finally, Uproot Plastics, through its press statement, called on the Korean government to strongly support production reduction as an early member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC) as well as the host of the final INC. They urged transparent and accountable preparation for the negotiation process in line with the spirit of the United Nations to tackle plastic pollution.
- In the following performance, citizens depicted turning off a faucet from which plastic waste and ‘plastic monsters’ were pouring. This symbolic act conveyed the message that both the government and citizens must work together to end the global crisis of plastic pollution. Just as turning off a faucet is necessary to stop the overflow of water, reducing plastic production is essential to solving the problems derived from plastics. The performance highlights that achieving an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty requires first turning off the 'plastic faucet.'
- The Global Plastics Treaty is regarded as the most significant multilateral environmental agreement since the Paris Agreement, as it addresses the entire lifecycle of the plastics-from raw material extraction to production, use, and disposal. It is expected to bring about significant changes at international level. Since the 5th INC is aimed to draft the treaty text, it is predicted that more than 3,000 participants will attend, including government delegations, the United Nations Environment Programme, relevant international organizations, policymakers, academics, experts, civil society representatives, and public interest activists from around the world-the largest gathering in the committee’s history. In November 2024, the eyes of the global community will be focused on Busan.
- The "Uproot Plastics" is a collaborative effort based in South Korea, involving 14 domestic and international environmental organizations. These include Action for a Carcinogen-free Korea, Almang Market, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK), Green Korea United (GKU), Greenpeace Korea, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Korea Zerowaste Movement Network, Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN), Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), RELOOP, Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (Seoul KFEM), and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH). The coalition is working together by attending INC sessions, hosting forums, running public campaigns, and holding press conferences in support of an ambitious global plastics treaty.
Uproot Plastics performs a symbolic act of turning off a faucet from which plastic waste and ‘plastic monsters’ are pouring out
September 11, 2024
Action for a Carcinogen-free Korea, Almang Market, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK), Green Korea United (GKU), Greenpeace Korea, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Korea Zerowaste Movement Network, Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN), Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), RELOOP, Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (Seoul KFEM), and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)
[Attachment 1] Press Statement
Korean Citizens Call for South Korea’s Leadership in Plastic Production Reduction
Host country of the 5th International Negotiating Committee must strongly support reduction efforts.
From November 25 to December 1, 2024, the 5th International Negotiating Committee (INC) will be held in Busan, South Korea, to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (hereafter referred to as the ‘Global Plastics Treaty’). This marks the final step in a series of negotiations that have taken place since the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted Resolution 5/14 in February 2022, which called for global action to tackle the planetary plastic crisis.
Over the past two years, despite four rounds of negotiations, little progress has been made, leaving numerous options still open for discussion in the draft agreement. This lack of substantial advancement has placed global attention on Busan, the host city of the final negotiation.
South Korea, one of the earliest members of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC) and the host nation of the fifth INC, has yet to demonstrate a decisive and proactive position in the negotiations to truly address plastic pollution.
In response, domestic and international civil society, united under Uproot Plastics (a coalition organized by civil society groups based in Korea to ‘root out’ plastic problems), urgently calls on the Korean government to take the following actions in support of a strong Global Plastics Treaty.
South Korea must stop idly standing by and instead acknowledge its responsibility as a major plastic producer.
So far, South Korea has taken a passive stance on production reduction due to its status as a plastic-producing nation. However, even oil-producing countries like the United States have recently stated that plastic production reduction must be included in the treaty draft, and many United Nations (UN) member states have signed the ‘Bridge to Busan: Declaration on Primary Plastic Polymers,’ to support the reduction of primary plastic polymer production. Rather than prioritizing the short-term interests of a few petrochemical companies, South Korea must meet the demands of the international community and own up to its responsibility befitting its role as the host nation of the negotiations.
The Global Plastics Treaty should not be limited to merely managing plastic pollution, as maintained by oil-producing nations and other opposing countries. Instead, it must serve as a critical turning point that presents fundamental solutions. South Korea must express its clear support for reducing plastic production as the first step towards overcoming plastic pollution.
As one of the earliest members of the HAC and as the host country for the fifth INC, South Korea must strongly support the reduction of plastic production
The core element of the global plastics treaty is to establish strong plastic production reduction targets and implementation measures; the success of the fifth round of negotiations will depend on whether these targets and measures are turned into legally binding provisions. On April 15 prior to the fourth INC, as a member of the HAC, South Korea endorsed the ministerial statement launched by the HAC and thereby purported to underscore the polluter pays principle, demand legally binding provisions to limit the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels, and affirm that the global plastics treaty should be in line with the goals of existing multilateral environmental agreements like the Paris Agreement. However, no significant action has been taken since then.
As a member of the HAC and the host country for the fifth INC, Korea should actively exercise its influence to ensure that strong production reduction targets and implementation measures are included in the treaty text.
Demands from civil society must be reflected in the preparation for the fifth INC and in the spirit of the UN, the process must be transparent and fair
The fifth round of negotiations, where UN Member States will focus on resolving the plastic crisis, must also comport with UN’s core values of transparency and accountability during its preparation. However, while including industry stakeholders or taking their positions into account in formal and informal proceedings related to the plastics treaty, South Korea has limited the participation of civil society who have long addressed the problems around plastics and has sidestepped tackling important treaty elements such as reducing plastic production by stating that they will “negotiate so that domestic industries can easily respond to international regulations.”
Accordingly, when Uproot Plastics asked the relevant ministries in August about South Korea’s position on the core elements of the treaty, including production reduction, reuse, and the polluter pays principle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries all declined to respond, citing such information as classified diplomatic strategies.
South Korea must be in line with the core values of the UN when developing its strategy and its preparation for the global plastics treaty by being transparent and fair and disclose its progress.
Citizens are demanding a reduction in plastic production to address plastic pollution at its source.
According to an awareness survey on the global plastics treaty published by Greenpeace, 8 out of 10 Koreans responded that reducing plastic production is necessary to solve the problem of plastic pollution. This shows that Koreans are aware of the seriousness of plastic pollution and are ready to solve it. The Korean government should listen to the voices of its citizens rather than industry demands. Koreans recognize that the plastic problem is a serious environmental crisis that can no longer be delayed, and they expect the Korean government to respond with responsibility.
Having agreed to reduce plastic production under the global plastics treaty, South Korea must live up to the expectations.
September 11, 2024
Action for a Carcinogen-free Korea, Almang Market, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK), Green Korea United (GKU), Greenpeace Korea, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Korea Zerowaste Movement Network, Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN), Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), RELOOP, Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (Seoul KFEM), and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)
[Attachment 2] Summary of Policy Inquiry on the Global Plastics Treaty
Summary of Policy Inquiry
on the Global Plastics Treaty
1) Overview
〇 A policy inquiry was submitted to the relevant ministries of Republic of Korea ahead of the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) for the Global Plastics Treaty, to be held in Busan in November.
〇 Objectives:
To convey key demands of Uproot Plastics
To confirm the government’s position and urge active and ambitious stance on the global plastics treaty
〇 Relevant ministries: Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy
〇 Inquiry sent: August 16
〇 Responses received:
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries : August 29
Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs: September 4
Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy: September 5
2) Key Inquiry Points
〇 The position and future plans of South Korea concerning the main agendas of the Global Plastics Treaty
■ Key demands proposed by the Uproot Plastics for an ambitious treaty ① The treaty should adopt a top-down approach, establishing globally shared goals. ② The treaty should address the entire lifecycle of plastics, from raw materials extraction and production reduction. ③ The treaty should promote the establishment of reuse systems and set specific reuse targets. ④ Recycling, including chemical recycling, is not a fundamental solution to plastic pollution. ⑤ The treaty should support a just transition for workers in the plastics industry and the waste sector, who will be directly or indirectly impacted by plastic reduction efforts. ⑥ Single-use plastics should be phased out. ⑦ The treaty must adhere to the polluter-pays principle.
|
3) Summary of Responses
〇 All four responding ministries expressed challenges in disclosing specific information or positions, citing concerns that such disclosures might reveal diplomatic strategies.
[Press Release]
For Immediate Releaseㅣ12th September, 2024
Titleㅣ[Press Release] Korean Civil Society Calls for Government to Take Responsibility as a Major Plastic Producer, not Standing on the Sidelines
Press Conference Snapshotsㅣ11th September, 2024
Attachment 1ㅣPress Statement
Attachment 2ㅣSummary of Policy Inquiry on the Global Plastics Treaty
[Press Release]
Korean Civil Society Calls for Government to Take Responsibility as a Major Plastic Producer, not Standing on the Sidelines
- The government remains silent when questioned about its stance on the Global Plastic Treaty. The passive approach requires a shift
- Proactive participation in production reduction agenda is crucial for a successful Global Plastics Treaty
“Uproot Plastics” holding a press conference in Gwanghwamun, the heart of Seoul
Uproot Plastics performs a symbolic act of turning off a faucet from which plastic waste and ‘plastic monsters’ are pouring out
September 11, 2024
Action for a Carcinogen-free Korea, Almang Market, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK), Green Korea United (GKU), Greenpeace Korea, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Korea Zerowaste Movement Network, Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN), Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), RELOOP, Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (Seoul KFEM), and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)
[Attachment 1] Press Statement
Korean Citizens Call for South Korea’s Leadership in Plastic Production Reduction
Host country of the 5th International Negotiating Committee must strongly support reduction efforts.
From November 25 to December 1, 2024, the 5th International Negotiating Committee (INC) will be held in Busan, South Korea, to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (hereafter referred to as the ‘Global Plastics Treaty’). This marks the final step in a series of negotiations that have taken place since the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted Resolution 5/14 in February 2022, which called for global action to tackle the planetary plastic crisis.
Over the past two years, despite four rounds of negotiations, little progress has been made, leaving numerous options still open for discussion in the draft agreement. This lack of substantial advancement has placed global attention on Busan, the host city of the final negotiation.
South Korea, one of the earliest members of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC) and the host nation of the fifth INC, has yet to demonstrate a decisive and proactive position in the negotiations to truly address plastic pollution.
In response, domestic and international civil society, united under Uproot Plastics (a coalition organized by civil society groups based in Korea to ‘root out’ plastic problems), urgently calls on the Korean government to take the following actions in support of a strong Global Plastics Treaty.
South Korea must stop idly standing by and instead acknowledge its responsibility as a major plastic producer.
So far, South Korea has taken a passive stance on production reduction due to its status as a plastic-producing nation. However, even oil-producing countries like the United States have recently stated that plastic production reduction must be included in the treaty draft, and many United Nations (UN) member states have signed the ‘Bridge to Busan: Declaration on Primary Plastic Polymers,’ to support the reduction of primary plastic polymer production. Rather than prioritizing the short-term interests of a few petrochemical companies, South Korea must meet the demands of the international community and own up to its responsibility befitting its role as the host nation of the negotiations.
The Global Plastics Treaty should not be limited to merely managing plastic pollution, as maintained by oil-producing nations and other opposing countries. Instead, it must serve as a critical turning point that presents fundamental solutions. South Korea must express its clear support for reducing plastic production as the first step towards overcoming plastic pollution.
As one of the earliest members of the HAC and as the host country for the fifth INC, South Korea must strongly support the reduction of plastic production
The core element of the global plastics treaty is to establish strong plastic production reduction targets and implementation measures; the success of the fifth round of negotiations will depend on whether these targets and measures are turned into legally binding provisions. On April 15 prior to the fourth INC, as a member of the HAC, South Korea endorsed the ministerial statement launched by the HAC and thereby purported to underscore the polluter pays principle, demand legally binding provisions to limit the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels, and affirm that the global plastics treaty should be in line with the goals of existing multilateral environmental agreements like the Paris Agreement. However, no significant action has been taken since then.
As a member of the HAC and the host country for the fifth INC, Korea should actively exercise its influence to ensure that strong production reduction targets and implementation measures are included in the treaty text.
Demands from civil society must be reflected in the preparation for the fifth INC and in the spirit of the UN, the process must be transparent and fair
The fifth round of negotiations, where UN Member States will focus on resolving the plastic crisis, must also comport with UN’s core values of transparency and accountability during its preparation. However, while including industry stakeholders or taking their positions into account in formal and informal proceedings related to the plastics treaty, South Korea has limited the participation of civil society who have long addressed the problems around plastics and has sidestepped tackling important treaty elements such as reducing plastic production by stating that they will “negotiate so that domestic industries can easily respond to international regulations.”
Accordingly, when Uproot Plastics asked the relevant ministries in August about South Korea’s position on the core elements of the treaty, including production reduction, reuse, and the polluter pays principle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries all declined to respond, citing such information as classified diplomatic strategies.
South Korea must be in line with the core values of the UN when developing its strategy and its preparation for the global plastics treaty by being transparent and fair and disclose its progress.
Citizens are demanding a reduction in plastic production to address plastic pollution at its source.
According to an awareness survey on the global plastics treaty published by Greenpeace, 8 out of 10 Koreans responded that reducing plastic production is necessary to solve the problem of plastic pollution. This shows that Koreans are aware of the seriousness of plastic pollution and are ready to solve it. The Korean government should listen to the voices of its citizens rather than industry demands. Koreans recognize that the plastic problem is a serious environmental crisis that can no longer be delayed, and they expect the Korean government to respond with responsibility.
Having agreed to reduce plastic production under the global plastics treaty, South Korea must live up to the expectations.
September 11, 2024
Action for a Carcinogen-free Korea, Almang Market, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK), Green Korea United (GKU), Greenpeace Korea, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Korea Zerowaste Movement Network, Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN), Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), RELOOP, Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (Seoul KFEM), and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)
[Attachment 2] Summary of Policy Inquiry on the Global Plastics Treaty
Summary of Policy Inquiry
on the Global Plastics Treaty
1) Overview
〇 A policy inquiry was submitted to the relevant ministries of Republic of Korea ahead of the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) for the Global Plastics Treaty, to be held in Busan in November.
〇 Objectives:
To convey key demands of Uproot Plastics
To confirm the government’s position and urge active and ambitious stance on the global plastics treaty
〇 Relevant ministries: Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy
〇 Inquiry sent: August 16
〇 Responses received:
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries : August 29
Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs: September 4
Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy: September 5
2) Key Inquiry Points
〇 The position and future plans of South Korea concerning the main agendas of the Global Plastics Treaty
■ Key demands proposed by the Uproot Plastics for an ambitious treaty
① The treaty should adopt a top-down approach, establishing globally shared goals.
② The treaty should address the entire lifecycle of plastics, from raw materials extraction and production reduction.
③ The treaty should promote the establishment of reuse systems and set specific reuse targets.
④ Recycling, including chemical recycling, is not a fundamental solution to plastic pollution.
⑤ The treaty should support a just transition for workers in the plastics industry and the waste sector, who will be directly or indirectly impacted by plastic reduction efforts.
⑥ Single-use plastics should be phased out.
⑦ The treaty must adhere to the polluter-pays principle.
3) Summary of Responses
〇 All four responding ministries expressed challenges in disclosing specific information or positions, citing concerns that such disclosures might reveal diplomatic strategies.