Ottawa – Canada is insisting on bringing the language recognizing the rights of indigenous people in a United Nations Plastic Pollution Treaty.
Representatives of more than 170 countries are in Geneva this week and to resume the conversation on a treaty, which was to be finalized in South Korea last year. Meetings in Busan were the fifth and final round of negotiations to develop an international, legally binding treaty to eliminate plastic waste by 2040.
Scientists estimate that more than 350 million tonnes of plastic are thrown out every year. Less than one-tenth is recycled and ends over one-fifth in the environment, where it is harmful to all forms of people and nature.
Canada played an important role in bringing countries together to discuss a treaty and hosted the fourth round of talks in Ottawa in April 2024.
But the countries are focusing on how far the compromise with many countries opposing the cap on plastic production should go.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that the United States was spreading a memorandum for other countries this week, urging for a treaty to reject a treaty, which laid down on plastic production and plastic chemical additives.
Canada was one of the 100 other countries, signed a resolution in South Korea in November, committed to the future discussion on the global goal to reduce the production of plastic to a permanent level.
After negotiations in South Korea, which ended without an agreement, the draft version of the treaty removed the reference to the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous people, or Undrip.
“My guess is that they were still trying to streamline the (draft) texts and take out any source of disagreement there,” Karen Versig said, senior program manager on plastic with environmental protection, a Canadian environmental advocacy organization, which is observing negotiations in Gaina.
“I mean, it is just shocking that the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people. It is a United Nations process and you are going to take away all references to the rights of indigenous people? Such as, wow, shocking.”
Canada on Tuesday submitted a resolution to put back the Undrip language for the treaty.
“It is really happy to see it to move forward; to join this process and then Canada is put forward to all sides to see it,” said Kelsey Scarfon, a senior policy advisor to the Metis National Council, which is part of the Canadian delegation in Geneva.
The First Nations Assembly, and Inute Circampolar Council are also advising the Canadian government in their conversation.
Scarfone said the Canadian government officials have “cooperated and assistant” in bringing the Undrip language back in the table of talks.
Scarfone said, “It is a very important situation that exit from there and the rights of indigenous people should be protected and confirmed in this treaty.”
“We just hope to see that the last hours of the talks were taken.”
Indigenous leaders followed negotiations, saying that they are working hard to claim their rights, and not only lumps in another group requiring consultation in another group.
“We are right. And unfortunately, we continue to confuse with stakeholders and observers in the (United Nations interaction) process,” Tory Cress said, the co-chairman of the International Indigenous People’s Forum on plastic and a member of the Busolil First Nation in Ontario.
Canada’s proposal was supported by 45 countries, including Australia, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, and Guatemala, as well as a group of small and small.
In 2020, Canada produced more than 7.1 million tonnes of plastic and had only five percent recycled materials. About five million tonnes of plastic waste ended, with less than 10 percent recycled.
While plastic can be broken up to microscopic levels, it dissolves completely and can come into soil and water supply.
This report of Canadian Press was first published on August 6, 2025.
Nick Murray, Canadian Press
