August 15, 2025 (SEOUL) – International negotiations for a global plastics treaty collapsed today, after key measures to curb plastic production were stripped from the draft text. This risks locking in soaring plastic-related emissions, with even a modest 4% annual increase in production projected to push 2019's 2.2 billion tons of CO₂e to more than triple by 2050 — making the  1.5 °C climate goal unattainable.

South Korea once again refrained from taking a clear stance on the article on plastic production reduction. As of 2022, South Korea is the world’s 5th largest petrochemical producer, bearing clear responsibility for plastic-related pollution and climate damage, but has so far turned a blind eye.

“Although the negotiations ended without consensus, most countries recognized that downstream measures such as recycling cannot effectively address the environmental and climate impacts of plastic production,” said Yujung Shin, Petrochemical Team Lead of Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC). “Cutting production at the source is essential, and with a Plastic-Free Roadmap on the horizon, South Korea must take the lead.”

This breakdown in negotiations is not the end. Global efforts to cut plastic production are already underway. At the previous INC 5 talks in Busan, Panama’s proposal to reduce production won support from 89 countries; in June, 95 nations backed the same goal in the UN Ocean Conference’s Nice Declaration. During INC 5.2, many again called for a treaty addressing plastics across their entire lifecycle. On August 13, when the Chair’s draft excluded production cuts, numerous delegations objected. The room, filled with government and civil society representatives, erupted in applause. Even with some countries blocking consensus, South Korea must now help confront the climate and environmental crises driven by plastic overproduction and reaffirm that this issue cannot be ignored.

The South Korean government’s recent commitment to deliver a “Plastic-Free Roadmap” by 2025 is a vital opportunity. This roadmap must go beyond recycling and set mid-to-long term goals to cut excessive and unnecessary plastic production from the manufacturing stage. South Korea should also actively advocate for production reduction in future international negotiations. This is to meet its international obligations and to address the oversupply crisis threatening its own petrochemical sector.

The path forward is clear: reduce plastic production, lead in global negotiations, and make the Plastic-Free Roadmap a true blueprint for change.

ENDS.    

Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) is an independent nonprofit organization that works to accelerate global greenhouse gas emissions reduction and energy transition. SFOC leverages research, litigation, community organizing, and strategic communications to deliver practical climate solutions and build movements for change.       

For media inquiries, please reach out to Yi Hyun Kim, Communications Officer, yihyun.kim@forourclimate.org.