3 February 2025
Welcome to the February 2025 edition of the Global Ocean Forum’s Ocean & Climate News. This issue will spotlight the second edition of our Ocean & Climate Action webinar series, organized in partnership with the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute. The webinar focuses on the global plastics treaty and will provide perspectives on the topic from various experts. The issue will also provide a status update on the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project and will close with a preview of 2025 ocean and climate events around the world.
As we start a new year and a full agenda of activities at the Global Ocean Forum, please consider donating here to support the Global Ocean Forum’s ongoing mission to promote good governance of the ocean, healthy marine ecosystems, and sustainable development.
Ocean & Climate Updates
Join us to explore the second topic of the Ocean & Climate Action webinar series: Plastics
Tomorrow, Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 11AM EST, the Global Ocean Forum is co-organizing a panel discussion on the Current Status and Future of the Global Plastics Treaty with Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute. This webinar aims to explore the progress, as well as the failures, toward addressing plastic pollution on a global scale while assessing its various implications. Key points of consideration include identifying and addressing the stumbling blocks to treaty adoption, the implications of addressing the entire plastics life cycle, the role of civil society and other non-State actors in the plastics treaty negotiations and in its implementation, health, environmental injustice, and equity issues, and financing.
Panelists:
- Jyoti Mathur-Filipp,Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution
- Margaret Spring,Chief Conservation and Science Officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Marjo Vierros,Head of Science Policy Research, Ocean Voices Programme
- Daniela Durán,Senior Legal Campaigner, Upstream Plastics Treaty, Center for International Environmental Law
Moderators:
- Tony MacDonald, Executive Director, Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute
- Miriam Balgos, Executive Director, Global Ocean Forum
The 90-minute webinar is free and open to the public. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. For questions, email cmitchell@globaloceanforum.com.
The Ocean and Climate Action Webinar Series
The Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute and the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) are jointly organizing a three-part webinar series on Ocean and Climate Action in alignment with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Vision 2030. The webinars aim to mobilize civil society around critical ocean and climate action identified in the report on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action 2022-2023 (ROCA Report). The ROCA Report is published biennially by the Global Ocean Forum and serves to review global progress made on climate and ocean initiatives. The 2022-2023 ROCA Report identified priority topics that the webinar series will be addressing, including the Global Plastics Treaty and its implications for the management of land-based marine pollution and alignment of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and BBNJ Agreement targets on area-based management. These webinars will emphasize that achieving ocean-climate action goals is imperative for global sustainability.
A recording of the first webinar in the Ocean and Climate Action series, Catalyzing Party and Community Action on Ocean, Climate and BBNJ, is available here. The second webinar, Current Status and Future of the Global Plastics Treaty, will be held at 11AM EST on 4 February 2025 and will discuss the Global Plastics Treaty. The third webinar will focus on the Blue Economy. More details about the third webinar, including invited speakers and the intended date and time, will be announced during the closing of the second webinar.
Perspectives on the Global Plastics Treaty: Reflections on the INC-5 Negotiations
Lack of consensus at INC-5 Negotiations
The fifth round of negotiations for a global plastics treaty, INC-5, took place in Busan, South Korea at the end of November 2024. This was expected to be the final phase of negotiations with over 3,000 delegates in attendance, including representatives from national governments, industry, academia, international organizations, and civil society groups. Unfortunately, despite the extensive participation, the negotiations ended without a legally binding agreement. Instead, talks were suspended, with plans to meet again in 2025.
This outcome was a significant blow to those working on the treaty and to communities worldwide who had hoped this critical juncture would mark a turning point in the fight against plastic pollution. Instead, it served as a stark reminder of how challenging it is to forge a binding international agreement on such a complex issue and raises serious questions about procedure, credibility, and multilateralism.
Industry Influence and Delays
A key issue at INC-5 was the overwhelming presence of fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists. Busan saw 220 lobbyists from these sectors registered, the highest representation in the treaty’s negotiation history. They formed the largest single delegation, surpassing even the host nation, South Korea, with an additional 17 lobbyists embedded within national delegations. This heavy industry presence contributed to obstructing and delaying proceedings, muddying discussions, and ultimately undermining progress. This growing problem of industry interference in environmental multilateralism risks undermining the credibility of the UN’s negotiating procedures and is something that needs to be addressed with effective measures in order to achieve a meaningful treaty.
Contentious Issues at the Table
One of the most crucial topics that delegates failed to achieve consensus on was that of reducing plastic production and limiting the use of toxic chemicals. Many nations, particularly from the Global South and the European Union, pushed for strict caps on virgin plastic production. However, powerful industry-aligned delegations blocked these measures, advocating instead for waste management improvements and technological fixes like chemical recycling.
Financial assistance for developing nations was another contentious issue. Countries disproportionately affected by plastic waste called for robust funding mechanisms. While wealthier nations expressed support for capacity-building, they ultimately stopped short of making binding financial commitments.
There was also disagreement over accountability mechanisms. While some countries pushed for legally binding provisions with enforceable targets, others preferred voluntary guidelines, citing concerns about national sovereignty and economic competitiveness. Without a framework for transparent monitoring and accountability, the treaty risks becoming a collection of vague promises rather than a transformative instrument.
What’s Next for Treaty Negotiations?
Despite the disappointing outcome, there were signs of progress. Over 100 countries supported a text proposal for reducing plastic production, an encouraging development. Although a date has not yet been set for INC5.2, scheduling the next round of negotiations for the first half of 2025 would help maintain the momentum built in Busan.
To avoid another deadlock, several options could be explored. One possibility is introducing a voting mechanism to force an outcome. Alternatively, negotiators might agree to a “weak” treaty with plans to address more contentious issues later. Another approach could see countries that are in agreement creating a robust treaty outside the UN framework. While this could still impact global plastic production, it would not be legally binding for non-participating nations.
Reasons for Optimism
Despite the frustrations, there are reasons to remain cautiously hopeful. The negotiations demonstrated growing recognition of the plastic crisis as a global emergency requiring urgent action. The inclusion of civil society groups, scientists, and indigenous representatives provided valuable perspectives that could help shape more inclusive and effective solutions. Seeing major global economies come together to envision a post-plastics future shows that progress is possible.
The treaty could still be a powerful catalyst for change, and progress is already underway, even without formal legislation. Cities, corporations, and grassroots movements are implementing innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste and shift toward circular economies. These efforts could build pressure on national governments to adopt more ambitious treaty provisions. Momentum at a local level and private sector actions offer hope and show how much the dial has moved in the right direction towards tackling plastic pollution.
As we look ahead to INC-5.2, there is still hope, despite the influence of vested interests and lobbyists, that a robust treaty with a firm commitment to reducing plastic production can be achieved.
Plastics Treaty: What went wrong in Busan? What’s Next?
A recent article by Rémi Parmentier, Director at The Varda Group, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development shares ideas on how to rescue the Global Plastics Treaty process. Highlights include disagreements that continued to flare during the latest round of negotiations, the members and interests of the High Ambition Coalition, and new ideas that can be considered now that the current negotiating method has reached its limits. Find the full article here.
Building Global Momentum Towards Managing Marine Plastic Pollution Through SDG 14
An article by Marjo Vierros, Gemma Nelson, Mariana Caldeira, Andrei Polejack, Julia Schutz Veiga, and Alumita Sekinairai published in the Ocean and Society Open Access Journal in July 2024 explores marine plastic pollution management. The article traces the pathway through which SDG 14 voluntary commitments, from local to global, have led by example while building a global sense of urgency to address the plastic pollution crisis. It also provides examples of how local communities and governments have experienced and responded to the crisis. Lessons learned from these local examples were provided to link local measures and priorities to the global level in a way that can inform how the plastic pollution treaty is both negotiated and implemented.
Launching the Preparation of the Report on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action: 2024-2025
The launch of the 2024-2025 report on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action (ROCA Report) was announced during the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion. Preparation of this biennial report has started with the identification and compilation of relevant information on progress achieved in ocean and climate initiatives in 2024 and expected progress that will be achieved in 2025. A new addition to this volume will be a section on ocean-based solutions to mitigation and adaptation issues successfully adopted and reported within the years covered by the report. A call to authors was shared with past ROCA Report contributors in January, with additional authors added by invitation through February. The report is expected to be published in November 2025 with an official launch at the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30).
This volume will benefit from the leadership of Dr. Peter Ricketts, Professor and former President and Vice Chancellor of Acadia University and GOF Board Director, as lead author. An annotated outline has been prepared and is available upon request. Volunteer contributors to this report are welcome to signify their interest to the GOF secretariat.
Cross-sectoral Project Updates
The second meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the Cross-sectoral Project was held on 29 January 2025 with all PSC membership in attendance. The 2025 work plan and revised project timeline were approved unanimously. An intersessional PSC meeting will be organized in May or June 2025 following the completion of a capacity needs assessment to evaluate the existing capacity for cross-sectoral management and governance of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Southeast Pacific and the Pacific Islands region.
The Project has completed preliminary work in the preparation of 18 national ABNJ profiles and two regional ABNJ profiles as part of the capacity needs assessment. To be finalized in collaboration with national and regional stakeholders, the information gathered through this baseline analysis can also support country efforts for ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. As part of the capacity needs assessment, the project will also complete a job analysis, population analysis, and validation workshop for each pilot region.
To raise the profile of ABNJ among the general public, a short self-paced e-learning course on ABNJ is in development among project partners. This course will provide an overview of ABNJ issues and management with a focus on cross-sectoral governance. The course is expected to be launched in June 2025 at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France. In addition, following the completion of a user needs survey in 2024, wireframes of an ABNJ governance platform are also expected to be completed and shared at UNOC to solicit additional stakeholder feedback. This platform will provide a centralized information hub for actors (governments, international organizations, sectoral bodies, etc.) to access the best available information on ocean governance to support improved cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination in ABNJ.
Ocean Events & Opportunities
Upcoming Ocean Events in 2025
There will be several major ocean events to look forward to in 2025, including the following:
- BBNJ Symposium, 18-19 February 2025, Singapore
- International Ocean Data Conference – III, 10-11 March 2025, Santa Marta, Colombia
- Advancing Ocean Learning: Navigating Knowledge in the Pacific, 14-16 April 2025, Suva, Fiji
- Two sessions of the Preparatory Commission for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, 14-21 April 2025 and 18-29 August 2025, New York, United States
- Our Ocean, Our Action, 27-29 April 2025, Busan, South Korea
- Global Sustainable Islands Summit, 27-29 May 2025, St. Kitts and Nevis
- One Ocean Science Congress, 4-6 June 2025, Nice, France
- UN Ocean Conference, 9-13 June 2025, Nice, France
- OCEANS 2025, 16-19 June 2025, Brest, France
- UNFCCC COP30, 10-21 November 2025, Belém, Brazil
Support the Global Ocean Forum
Please consider donating to the Global Ocean Forum to support our 2024-2025 campaign of the Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain Memorial Fund, the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC COPs and the biennial report on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action (ROCA Report) for years to come. We also welcome donations to our general program operations that will directly support the implementation of our Strategic Plan for 2024-2030 with program development across four focal areas: Ocean & Climate, ABNJ, Blue Economy, and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management.
Prepared by Catie Mitchell and Miriam Balgos