BUSAN, South Korea, Nov 27, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Environmental groups on
Wednesday slammed the presence of dozens of petrochemical and fossil fuel
industry lobbyists at UN talks on a plastic pollution treaty, accusing them
of "obstruction" and "misinformation."

"It's a direct conflict of interest," said Delphine Levi Alvares, global
petrochemical campaign coordinator at the Center for International
Environmental Law (CIEL).

"Their interests conflict with the objective of the mandate (of the talks)
and their presence here challenges independent science."

Nearly 200 countries are in South Korea to agree on a treaty to end plastic
pollution, capping two years of talks.

The resolution setting up the talks calls for a treaty addressing the full
"lifecycle" of plastics, as well as the need for sustainable production and
consumption.

Environmental groups and many countries say this is a mandate to limit new
plastic production, putting the goals of the treaty in conflict with the
business model of fossil fuel and chemical companies whose products are the
raw materials for plastic.

CIEL said its analysis of a UN list of participants showed over 200 lobbyists
from the fossil fuel and chemical industries were registered for the talks.

"We have watched industry lobbyists surrounding the negotiations with sadly
well-known tactics of obstruction, distraction, intimidation, and
misinformation," said Levi Alvares.

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) put the number of
industry delegates in attendance at 135, and pushed back against the claims.

"We are far outnumbered" by observers from NGOs, said Matthew Kastner,
director of media relations for the American Chemistry Council, an ICCA
member.

"Our delegation is here to listen to governments so we can understand the
unique challenges they face," he said.

Industry observers want to offer the "deep technical expertise our industries
have that can help end plastic pollution."

Environmental groups argue that deep-pocketed industry organisations have a
massive advantage in influencing negotiations, and are often found on the
delegations of countries accused of blocking progress towards a more
ambitious treaty.

"The difference is that NGOs are representing public interests whereas these
industries are representing private interests," Levi Alvarez said.

NGOs have regularly criticised the presence of industry players on country
delegations negotiating at the talks.

Countries are free to choose who participates in their delegations and in
some cases have brought environmental groups into the talks.

UN Environment Programme chief Inger Andersen told AFP earlier this week that
she had no mandate to limit participation in delegations.

"We've had a large contingent of observers from all kinds of groups," she
said.

"We do not have the ability to tell member states who they put on their
delegations."