My deep thanks to the Republic of Korea for the wonderful reception and treatment we have all received in the beautiful city of Busan. My deep thanks to the Chair and his team, who showed absolute determination in their efforts to land an instrument to end plastic pollution. We are deeply in your debt.
To the bureau, the co-facilitators and the co-chairs who worked long, long hours, and to those who stayed with them and contributed to those discussions, many thanks. And many thanks to the negotiators who endured sleepless nights in an effort to find consensus. That we have not quite achieved consensus here is not for want of trying.
And to the many observers – with the passion, knowledge and insight that you bring – your contribution is real. I hear your frustrations. This too shall pass as we move forward to deliver a treaty, and there will be different set-up to that we have in negotiations. Thank you for hanging in there and thank you for your voice. To the media, thanks for bringing the news of what happens here into the broader world. To the UNEP team and, of course, to many other staff from across the UN system, thank you.
As we leave Busan, it is clear that there are still promises to keep. And it is clear that the world still wants and demands an end to plastic pollution. Countries, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, industry, youth, scientists, waste pickers and civil society: this is a challenge that unites us all.
We all want to ensure that no harmful chemicals end up in our bodies, in our food or in our babies’ toys or food packaging. We all want to ensure that plastic does not wash up on our shores. That is why the world gathered here on the wind of good commitments made by G20 leaders and many others demanding and expecting a resolution of this problem.
We have come a long way. The Chair has put forward – with much discussion and brackets, including the overall brackets – a degree of structure as to what this text could be. That forms an important next step for the next round of negotiations, or INC 5.2.
It is clear that divergence persists. That is reality of these negotiations. It is also clear that there are hundreds of participants in this room, and indeed thousands of voices, demanding that we get this over the line. I have not heard a single delegate saying they do not want this treaty. We just need more time to craft a meaningful outcome: an instrument that hits the problem hard instead of punching below its potential weight.
So, we may be closing this session today, but the world will still be watching tomorrow. Plastic pollution will still be arriving on our shores. We are drafting a treaty for the ages. A treaty to protect our environment, our health and our future. Getting this right is critical. And so, our work will continue.
I assure you that we from UNEP will do everything that we can, because our work will not stop. We got our instructions from the UN Environment Assembly to support this process. We will continue to do so, supporting the bureau, the chair, the co-chairs and the co-facilitators as they emerge.
Because together we can, and we will, beat plastic pollution.
