Greenpeace activists protest plastic production by boarding tanker off South Korea

Greenpeace activists boarded a tanker off South Korea on November 30, 2024, to protest against plastic production. They called for a strong Global Plastics Treaty during U.N. negotiations in Busan, where delegates from 175 countries are meeting. The activists displayed a banner reading “strong plastic treaty” and painted “plastic kills” on the tanker. This protest coincides with the fifth and final meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which has seen slow progress. A draft treaty presented on November 29 includes proposals for a global list of plastic products and funding mechanisms for developing countries. However, it leaves key decisions to individual countries and does not clarify contributions from wealthier nations.