Indigenous Communities Vying for Attention in Negotiations for Plastic Waste Agreement

In the ongoing UN negotiations on the global plastic waste treaty, the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics (IIPFP) has faced significant barriers in participating. One of the main challenges has been the difficulty in getting accredited.

The treaty, aimed at cutting global plastic production, eliminating harmful plastic chemicals, and upholding the distinct rights of Indigenous Peoples, is a crucial step towards addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. However, the IIPFP, which advocates for the equal and ethical participation of Indigenous Peoples in these negotiations and centering their perspectives and experiences, has been excluded from formal meetings.

The IIPFP demanded to speak during UN negotiations on plastic pollution in Busan, South Korea in November 2024. Their exclusion from these discussions has been met with public condemnation from a group of observer organizations, including members of the IIPFP and a coalition of scientists. They warn that the limited access risks creating an ineffective treaty.

Frustrations increased as the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from informal meetings was perceived as a controlling hand at play. Being in the room enables Indigenous Peoples to lobby less progressive states and hold to account ambitious countries that have promised to push for a strong treaty.

Indigenous People often attend as "observers" and can join contact group meetings to keep track of the discussions between international delegates, but they cannot negotiate directly. This exclusion shuts out vital expertise from discussions, particularly in understanding the disproportionate impact of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities.

Plastic waste turns up everywhere, including in human bodies. The extraction and refining of fossil fuels used to make plastic frequently occur on Indigenous lands, posing environmental risks. Rufino Varea, an Indigenous Rotuman scientist from Fiji, suggests that the INC Secretariat may have tried to pre-emptively avoid any form of disruption to the meeting.

Natalie Jones, a policy adviser at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, states that closed meetings are an issue across international governance, as Indigenous Peoples and others cannot ensure their interests are being protected. Many participants, especially smaller, under-resourced delegations from Global South nations, rely on civil society and scientists to help them navigate the material and provide guidance.

The power dynamic may be showing in the text, with 220 members of the plastics and petrochemical industries registered for INC-5, exceeding delegates from the EU. Global South participants can face prohibitive costs in trying to reach meetings, which have been held mostly in the Global North.

In a concerning development, a version released at the end of INC-5 dropped references to Indigenous Peoples' rights. This has further fueled concerns about the exclusion of Indigenous voices in the negotiations. As the talks drag on, costs keep mounting, and some in civil society are not sure budgets will stretch to allow ongoing participation.

It is crucial that the voices of those most affected by plastic pollution, the Indigenous Peoples, are heard in these negotiations. Their unique perspectives and experiences can provide valuable insights into the solutions needed to address this global crisis.

Indigenous Communities Vying for Attention in Negotiations for Plastic Waste Agreement