At COP29, the country invited 151 corporate representatives and only eight from civil society groups to observe the climate talks. For future COPs, there needs to be a clear, accountable process with strict eligibility criteria for who should be included in the negotiations process.
As lobbyists flood plastic treaty talks, negotiators must uphold the rule of law to prevent corporate capture, including existing guidelines to stop the tobacco industry — a major source of plastic waste — from influencing policies.
The region can shape the Global Plastics Treaty if it maintains its momentum from COP16, where the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia called for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples rights and stronger collaboration on biodiversity finance.