◀ Anchor ▶
The international community is moving fast.
We have signed an agreement to reduce plastic production itself rather than recycling.
An intergovernmental negotiating committee is now being held in Paris, France.
However, the opinion presented by the Korean government to this meeting has been published, and there is considerable concern about its content.
Reporter Kim Min-wook will tell you why.
◀ Report ▶
A supermarket in Paris, France.
You don’t see ordinary plastic containers in Korean supermarkets.
Paper is also used as packaging material for products.
Beyond reducing plastic use in this way, the international community is pushing for a plan to reduce production itself.
The United Nations is holding its second intergovernmental negotiating committee in Paris since the 26th with the aim of signing an international plastic agreement by next year.
[이세미/′브레이크 프리 프롬 플라스틱′ 국제정책 고문]
“You need to do something where the answer is very clear from the plastics production stage. So the purpose of this agreement should be to reach and achieve that…”
It is not easy to gather opinions as understanding diverges.
Europe, which is already one step ahead, is introducing a high level of regulation, but oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia are negative.
I raised an objection to the already agreed procedure, but after the Korean representative refuted it, I received a big round of applause.
[한민영/외교부 기후환경과학외교국 심의관]
“We have important issues to discuss in order to end plastic pollution. It is worrying to go back on what has already been agreed.”
Korea, along with Norway and Rwanda, belongs to a group that supports a strong agreement, and has expressed its intention to hold the 5th meeting next year.
However, looking at the opinion presented by the Korean government to this meeting, my head is tilted.
The presentation was delivered over two months over the deadline, but the focus is mainly on recycling, such as the use of recycled raw materials and the use of bioplastics, and a specific plan for reducing production is missing.
Criticism comes that it has fallen far behind the European Union’s proposal to set the target amount and timing of plastic reduction.
[김나라/그린피스 서울사무소 플라스틱 캠페이너]
″’I make and process a lot of garbage, but I will think about how to deal with it’, so I can’t help but be very concerned about it (Korea’s opinion statement)…”
The Ministry of Environment said, “The common obligations of the international community and the need to apply appropriate measures for each country were presented,” but it seems that it is far from the role that the international community expects.
This is MBC News Kim Min-wook.
Video commentary: Han Jae-hoon Lee Yu-gyeong (Paris) / Video editing: Oh Yoo-rim / Video source: UNEP
