The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) aimed at developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, commonly called the Global Plastics Treaty, has concluded in Busan, South Korea. No agreement was reached although this was expected to be the final round. While some progress was made, unresolved disagreements on critical measures such as capping plastic production and addressing hazardous chemicals, prevented consensus. An additional round (INC-5.2) is expected to be held next year. Planet Tracker urges financial institutions, policymakers, and businesses to strengthen their efforts and stand firm in advocating for a treaty that addresses the root causes of plastic pollution.

Planet Tracker’s latest analysis reveals setbacks in Air Liquide’s climate transition progress. The company is likely to align with a 2°C warming scenario by 2030, a regression from last year’s 1.5°C alignment. The assessment of Air Liquide’s climate transition strategy highlights significant efforts alongside key challenges.

The recent Biodiversity COP in Colombia agreed to establish a mechanism for funding the protection of global genetic resources. It proposes that sectors such pharma, biotech, and animal & plant breeding, which benefit from genetic material, should share those gains with developing countries and Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

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Senior Investment Analyst (Plastics)

Planet Tracker’s Seafood Database has been further expanded to cover 300 corporates along the global seafood supply chain, providing investors with a unique open-access tool to identify those most exposed to overfishing, illegal fishing, and other seafood sustainability risks.

Using Planet Tracker’s Seafood Database, you can identify to what extent companies are exposed to overfishing, illegal fishing, and many other ocean sustainability risks, and compare their environmental health with their financial health.

Planet Tracker previously highlighted the negative environmental impacts of deep sea mining – but there’s another factor to consider – the minimal financial benefits for countries do not outweigh these negative impacts on the planet.

While proponents of deep sea mining argue it is needed to meet future demand for energy transition minerals, questions are beginning to be asked about the economic risk deep sea mining could pose to countries that mine these metals on land. By analysing the 12 biggest countries mining copper, cobalt, nickel and manganese, Mining for Trouble aims to highlight the value at risk to these economies if deep sea mining was to be green lit.

As the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is currently debating whether to allow deep sea mining in international waters, Race to the Bottom analyses the taxes and royalties countries could receive, revealing insignificant economic returns. According to Planet Tracker, there is no financial justification for deep sea mining, yet the environmental impact is vast.