India Asserts Consensus-Based Approach in Plastic Pollution Agreement Negotiations

During the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastics, India stood firm on its stance, declaring its support for an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution only if reached via full consensus, rather than by a two-thirds majority vote. The country emphasized the importance of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness in multilateral decision-making processes. Despite ongoing negotiations, significant disagreements persist among parties on critical issues such as primary plastic polymers, chemicals of concern, and trade regulations. The International Institute of Sustainable Development has highlighted these stumbling blocks, urging for their resolution to pave the way for an effective global treaty. INC-4, set to conclude on April 29, aims to advance discussions towards finalizing the text of the instrument by the fifth session in November. The subsequent INC-5, scheduled in Busan, South Korea, intends to mark the culmination of the negotiation process, followed by a diplomatic conference where world leaders will formally sign the agreement. India sought assurances from the INC chair regarding the application of Rule 38.1, which allows for a two-thirds majority vote if consensus cannot be reached. Reiterating its commitment to consensus-driven decision-making, India underscored the necessity of such an approach for promoting cooperation and ensuring the interests of all stakeholders. While countries like Russia, China, UAE, and Cuba have opposed the option of voting, independent observers have emphasized the drawbacks of a consensus-based system, which could potentially lead to certain decisions being vetoed by a few member states. With critical terms such as "life-cycle approach" and "problematic plastic" yet to be defined and agreed upon, achieving consensus remains a significant challenge in the negotiations. Furthermore, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment has highlighted concerns over increasing oil and gas production for polymers, anticipating regulatory responses to climate change that could affect fossil fuel production. Countries like India, Russia, the United States, and China have shown reluctance in reducing primary plastic polymer production, chemicals from polymer production, or phasing out single-use plastic, posing additional obstacles to reaching a comprehensive agreement. Source: Hindustan Tmes