By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, who is participating as the Korean government's lead representative in the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to draft an international convention on plastic pollution, met with the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Chair of the INC, and senior representatives from the United States, France, China, Micronesia, and other major countries to discuss the final issues and make efforts to reconcile differences on Dec. 1, 2024.

The conference has been held since November 25 and is scheduled to end on Dec. 1 after a week of negotiations, but disagreements between countries over key issues such as ▴plastic products and chemicals, ▴supply, and ▴financing are still unresolved. 

INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso presented the Chair's text on the afternoon of December 1 based on the discussions so far, but the positions of countries are still sharply divided.

Cho held a series of bilateral and small group meetings with senior representatives of key countries, emphasizing the importance of finalizing the agreement while the world's attention is focused on the outcome of INC-5. 

In particular, given the urgency of plastic pollution, he emphasized the need to first lay the legal foundation for the international community to begin its response efforts, and encouraged countries to show political will and flexibility even if the outcome does not reflect their best wishes right away.

In response, the Heads of State and Government agreed that finalizing an agreement at INC-5 is a shared goal, and pledged to be more open to disagreements on key issues and to work toward compromise solutions. 

They also expressed their appreciation for the leadership and flexibility of the Seoul  government to finalize a plastics convention in which the stakes are high.

Chair Vayas and UNEP Executive Director Andersen thanked the Republic of Korea for its meticulous preparations for the meeting and warm welcome, and urged the Republic of Korea to continue to play an active role as host country in reconciling differences to finalize the Convention.

The Government of the Republic of Korea will continue to focus on narrowing differences with like-minded countries during the remaining negotiations to finalize the Convention.