{"id":7623,"date":"2024-11-14T13:18:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T04:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/?p=7623"},"modified":"2024-11-14T14:44:14","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T05:44:14","slug":"civil-society-groups-urge-govt-to-keep-high-ambition-in-plastics-treaty-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/?p=7623","title":{"rendered":"Civil Society Groups Urge Gov\u2019t to Keep High Ambition in Plastics Treaty Talks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 14; Manila, Philippines\u2014 A coalition of the nation\u2019s largest environmental networks and organizations today urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to remain committed to its ambitious stance in the upcoming plastic treaty talks in Busan, Korea.<\/p>\n

In a letter addressed to\u00a0DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, the groups expressed support for the Philippines\u2019 position on developing a strong and effective treaty that includes reduction in primary plastic polymer production, elimination of chemicals of concern in plastics, binding global requirements on product design, and accessible financing for implementation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/p>\n

However, in the same letter, the groups also warned of potential attempts by polluters and powerful interests to weaken the government\u2019s position. \u201cWhile we support the Philippine delegation in championing an ambitious treaty, we are also prepared to expose and oppose any reversal or weakening of positions that would infringe on\u00a0 the rights of Filipinos to health and to a balanced and healthful ecology,\u201c the groups cautioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope the\u00a0 Philippine government will not succumb to these pressures or backslide from\u00a0 its previously stated positions. We will support our country’s delegation but will also not hesitate to expose backsliding in the service of polluters,\u201d said\u00a0Von Hernandez of Break Free From Plastic.<\/p>\n

In earlier rounds of negotiations, the Philippines has been touted as one of the progressive advocates for a strong, high ambition, science-based plastics treaty. The Philippine delegation has been one of the most vocal supporters of a treaty that includes global reduction of primary plastic polymers and in addressing pollution across the full life cycle of plastics. This also aligns with the findings of a\u00a0survey<\/a>\u00a0conducted by Greenpeace and Censuswide earlier this year, which found that 94% of Filipinos support an ambitious global plastics treaty that would mandate cuts in global plastic production.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/p>\n

Nine (9)\u00a0 out of ten (10) Filipinos also support\u00a0 bans on single use plastics\u00a0 according to the same poll.\u00a0 90% of greenhouse gas emissions from plastics are released during\u00a0 production processes including the extraction of\u00a0fossil fuels used in making plastics and the widespread use of single use plastics (SUPs). Taken together,\u00a0 the unabated global production and use of plastics present financial risks to governments, threaten human health, degrade ecosystems, and aggravate the climate crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This national position has been supported by the environmental groups who also wanted the government to intensify support for prioritizing upstream measures such as reuse-and-refill models and safer product design, while opposing greenwashing technologies and systems. The groups also asked the Philippine delegation to support just transition to ensure that waste workers, women and youth, indigenous peoples, workers, and other vulnerable sectors do not bear the burden of a transition away from plastics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/p>\n

\u201cThe final round of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations is a critical juncture for the Philippines and nations on the frontlines of plastic pollution,\u201d said\u00a0Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines. \u201cA strong treaty is not just a necessity; it\u2019s a lifeline to protect the people and the planet. A weak treaty\u2014without measures to reduce plastic production and phase out harmful plastics and chemicals of concern \u2014 leaves Filipinos facing greater harm. People need a treaty that drives ambition, robust policies and concrete actions across the plastic lifecycle, as this is our once-in-a-generation chance to finally end plastic pollution on a global scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jam Lorenzo, Research and Policy Development Head of group BAN Toxics\u00a0also calls on the Philippine government to continue its stand as a progressive voice in the negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty. \u201cIn previous INC meetings, the Philippines has advocated for the protection of human health and the environment. With the fifth INC meeting happening in a few weeks, it is important that the country remains firm with its positions on supporting production reduction, just transition, and the adoption of global transparency requirements \u2014 critical components to ensure that the GPT becomes effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is high time for the Government to address the country’s looming plastic pollution that adversely affects our people’s health and the environment,\u201d said\u00a0Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.\u00a0\u201cWe need a stronger country position that will\u00a0prioritize health, justice, and sustainability over the business as usual norms. Prevent plastic pollution at source, impose a cap on plastic production, ban single-use plastics, and invest in reuse and refill solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/p>\n

The negotiations for a plastics treaty has reached a crucial point where countries race against time with the deadline looming. From November 25 to December 1, 2024, the Philippines, along with other U.N. member-states will gather in Busan, South Korea for the fifth \u2014 and supposedly last \u2014 round of meetings of the International Negotiating Committee (INC-5) for a global plastics treaty.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Philippine delegation to INC-5, headed by the DENR, includes representatives from various government agencies and experts from civil society.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Note to the editor:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The letter to the DENR may be accessed through this\u00a0link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

November 14; Manila, Philippines\u2014 A coalition of the nation\u2019s largest environmental networks and organizations today urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to remain committed to its ambitious stance in the upcoming plastic treaty talks in Busan, Korea. In a letter addressed to\u00a0DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, the groups expressed support for the Philippines\u2019 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7625,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philippines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7624,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7623\/revisions\/7624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asiajournaux.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}