Plastic industry stakeholders have urged for further intersessional work following the fourth round of negotiations (INC-4) regarding the UN Global Platsics Treaty.
The negotiation occurred in Ottawa, Canada and discussed the growing concern about plastic and fossil fuel pollution.
Civil society groups criticised the presence of petrochemical lobbyists at the talk and how they might sway the final result.
Despite these criticisms, progress was made on the treaty text during the negotiations, and further development is expected to come shortly.
Erin Simon, the vice president and head of plastic waste and business at the WWF, stated that there was a lot of pressure on the fourth round of negotiations to make up for lost time.
The third round of negotiations (INC-3) faced backlash due to oil-producing nations' accusations of 'shameless stalling'.
Simon stated that due to the high risks, the problem will require global alignment on reducing plastic waste and its potential for leaking into nature.
A total of 196 fossil fuel and chemistry industry lobbyists registered for the event, which is an increase of 37 percent from INC-3.
Fossil fuel and chemical lobbyists outnumbered the combined 180 representatives of all EU delegations.
The number of registered fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists was three times greater than the 58 independent scientists from the Scientist's Coalition for An Effective Plastic Treaty.
Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council of Chemical Associations, stated that the plastic industry has remained fully committed to achieving a final, binding treaty by the end of 2024.
Throughout this round of negotiations, the International Council of Chemical Associations will delegate time to affirm the need for the plastics agreement and not to duplicate the functions of other UN agreements and frameworks.
The next round of negotiations will aim to take a step towards ending plastic pollution without eliminating plastic's massive societal benefits.
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