Activists in South Korea Demand Stronger Global Action on Plastic Pollution Ahead of U.N. Talks in Busan

Hundreds of activists marched in Busan, South Korea, on Saturday, urging stronger global action against plastic waste ahead of next week’s U.N. talks on a legally binding plastic pollution treaty. Participants called for reduced production and showcased creative protests using discarded plastic.

Hundreds of environmental activists marched on Saturday in the South Korean city of Busan, calling for stronger global action to tackle plastic waste ahead of U.N. talks in the city next week.

About a thousand people, including members of indigenous groups, young people and informal waste collectors, took part in the rally, the organiser said. Some carried banners saying "Cut plastic production" and "Drastic plastic reduction now!" The activists marched around the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre, where the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) will take place from Monday to discuss a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution.

Debate is expected to focus on whether the agreement should aim to slash production, while major producers such as Saudi Arabia and China have previously argued that it should prioritise less controversial approaches like waste management.

"We are here with Greenpeace and our allies in the Break Free from Plastic movement to represent the millions of people around the world that are demanding that world leaders address plastic pollution by reducing the amount of plastic that we produce in the first place," said Graham Forbes, global plastic campaign lead at Greenpeace.

Participants from various countries and of all ages joined the march, with some wearing elaborate hats made from discarded plastic items. "It looks like the Earth, and a living creature, because I wanted to say our living creatures are being affected by plastic pollution," said Lee Kyoung-ah, 52, who wore a hat made of abandoned plastic buoys.

Lee Min-sung, 26, expressed hope for changes in consumer habits. "I hope the culture of using 'reusables' becomes a cool, trendy movement, as that will reduce (waste) little by little," he said.

Fourth-grader Kim Seo-yul, who flew from her home in Jeju Island to join the march, shared her thoughts. "I will pick up trash more often, whenever I have time, and throw away less to save the Earth," she said.

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