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.
North Korea has condemned recent U.S.-South Korea-Japan military drills, warning of immediate action to counter provocations. Pyongyang accused the allies of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, vowing to pre-emptively control risks if necessary.
Russia provided North Korea with missiles and military aid in exchange for deploying 10,900 troops to support its war in Ukraine, some of whom have reportedly engaged in combat, according to South Korean officials.
As South Korea hosts INC-5 talks on plastic waste, critics say its 73% recycling claim hides flaws, with actual rates near 27%. Rising plastic use and financial challenges reveal limits of recycling-focused strategies.
North Korean troops, numbering 10,900, have been deployed to Kursk with Russian forces, some already fighting in Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker said. The country has also supplied Russia with additional weapons, including howitzers and rocket launchers.
U.S. PresidentJoe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday at the APEC Summit in Peru. The leaders sought to solidify diplomatic progress amid rising tensions in Asia and potential shifts in alliances under a Trump administration.
Global tensions rise at COP29 in Baku as developing nations reject the proposed $300B climate finance goal, demanding at least $500B annually to address urgent needs. Negotiations face a breaking point as blocs threaten to walk out over unmet demands.
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.
Hungary and Poland warn of escalating risks in the Ukraine war as Russia lowers its nuclear threshold and launches missile strikes, signalling a critical phase in the conflict.
Negotiations at COP29 in Baku face a critical impasse as sharp divisions over climate finance and fossil fuel commitments threaten progress.
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The United Nations COP29 climate change conference in Baku seeks $1 trillion annually to help vulnerable nations tackle climate change, as political tensions and Argentina’s withdrawal overshadow talks.
Global tensions rise at COP29 in Baku as developing nations reject the proposed $300B climate finance goal, demanding at least $500B annually to address urgent needs. Negotiations face a breaking point as blocs threaten to walk out over unmet demands.
Wealthy nations at COP29 have agreed to raise the global climate finance target to $300 billion annually by 2035, after a previous $250 billion proposal was rejected by developing countries. Negotiations continue as a new draft is awaited.
Global tensions rise at COP29 in Baku as developing nations reject the proposed $300B climate finance goal, demanding at least $500B annually to address urgent needs. Negotiations face a breaking point as blocs threaten to walk out over unmet demands.
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.
Hungary and Poland warn of escalating risks in the Ukraine war as Russia lowers its nuclear threshold and launches missile strikes, signalling a critical phase in the conflict.
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