Plastic diplomacy

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Nov 29, 2022 View in browser   By Jordan Wolman Presented by JBS USA THE BIG IDEA The U.S. and EU aren't in alignment on what a global plastics treaty should look like. | Dan Kitwood/Getty Images A PLASTIC SPLIT — The U.S. was at odds with many of its major allies over plastics policy even before negotiators arrived in Uruguay for the first round of talks on a global plan for curbing pollution. Now the rubber is meeting the road. There is a sense of urgency around the discussions, since negotiators have said they want to hammer out a deal by the end of 2024. African and Pacific island nations in opening remarks stressed the need for consistent, stable funding to implement a treaty, while also pointing out that plastics is yet another area where the brunt of pollution is falling disproportionately on countries that are not major producers. A major obstacle on the path to consensus is a split among nations that mirrors deep divisions between companies and campaigners over how to address the problem. According to a document seen by POLITICO, the State Department favors allowing nations to set their own action plans, dismissing the notion that there can be a "one-size-fits-all approach." That view has the enthusiastic backing of the U.S. chemicals lobby but isn't finding much support among other countries. The rival "High Ambition Coalition" advocates a more top-down approach that uses "bans and restrictions" to eliminate "problematic plastics" along with global baselines and targets. More than 50 nations have signed on to that approach, including the EU, U.K., Canada and Australia. Monica Medina , the State Department's assistant secretary for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, said the U.S. is "working hard to build our coalition," but no countries have publicly signed on so far. Though no major decisions are likely to be decided at this week's round talks, the U.S.-EU divisions are something to watch. Medina said a top priority for her is getting agreement on America's preferred approach as soon as possible. The U.S. has "been having great conversations with lots of governments," Medina said. "I don't think people have decided which approach they like better. And there's nothing about the High Ambition Coalition that forecloses our approach. So we don't see ourselves as isolated at all." Leonie Cater and Jordan have more here . WASHINGTON WATCH DREAM HOMES AND DISASTERS — For decades, lawmakers and federal agencies have wrangled with what to do about flood-prone homes along rivers and coastlines that have cost the federal government a tidy sum to rebuild again and again. But they've always been reluctant to take harsh action like pulling federal insurance funding from especially vulnerable areas. Now, in the wake of the deadly Kentucky floods and Hurricane Ian, official Washington is openly wrestling with what to do with the hundreds of thousands of people living in areas that climate change is rendering too risky to inhabit. And the discussion comes as billions of new taxpayer dollars are flowing to programs aimed at helping victims of extreme weather leave their vulnerable homes. But a POLITICO investigation of federal programs showed that many of the taxpayer-backed programs are riddled with inconsistencies and bureaucracy, often impeding intended outcomes. Zack Colman digs in with a deep dive on how efforts to move residents out of a flood-prone suburb of Tulsa, Okla., are going.   A message from JBS USA: What food producers bring to the table should sustain families—and our planet—for generations. That's why, at JBS, we are investing heavily in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. By prioritizing sustainable food production today, we're able to help ensure a thriving food system for all. Learn More   Sustainable Finance WINDFALL-ING FOR GREEN ENERGY — As oil giants figure out what to do with newfound warchests built on this year's record profits, there's hope that they will steer some of the money into green transition plans they've embraced mixed with concern that much of it will go to expansion of fossil fuel projects. Some companies, like TotalEnergies, are doing both. The France-based company recently acquired the Clearway Energy Group in the United States, boosting its renewable generating capacity from 4.4 gigawatts in the second quarter to 16 GW in the third quarter. It also announced a joint venture with Casa dos Ventos, a Brazilian renewable developer with 6 GW of renewable capacity in operation, construction or development. At the same time, Total is pushing to start a pair of new oil fields in Africa, which are projected to come online in 2025 and 2026. They will increase they company's crude production by roughly 15 percent, or 200,000 barrels a day. Total is also pushing to increase its LNG production 40 percent by the end of the decade, in a move mirrored by other oil majors. "It's a balanced strategy," Total CEO Patrick Pouyanné told financial analysts , adding that "we think that all these three energies — oil, LNG/gas and electricity — will need investments." Benjamin Storrow of POLITICO's E&E News has the story.   A message from JBS USA:   AROUND THE NATION EJ TAKES ON LNG — The Biden administration's move to promote exports of liquefied natural gas to help wean Europe off of Russian energy supplies isn't sitting well with some residents of an economically and environmentally challenged community targeted for a key role in the plan. Longtime residents of the predominantly Black north side of Port St. Joe, Fla., oppose the idea of developing a natural gas export hub on the site of a former paper mill, fearing health and safety problems due to increased emissions. Local politicians have dismissed the concerns and embraced the proposal, highlighting the prospect of bringing jobs to the area. But critics have questioned how such plans square with the administration's promise to remedy past abuse of communities like Port St. Joe. "This administration is like Janus, the god of two faces," said Sacoby Wilson, an associate professor at the University of Maryland and a former member of EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. "On the one hand, you say you support environmental justice, but you do policy that's not for environmental justice." Miranda Willson of POLITICO's E&E News has more.   A message from JBS USA: As a food company committed to feeding larger needs, at JBS we believe in sustainable food production. There's nothing more important than ensuring that our planet can continue to feed us all long into the future. Because of that, we're leading the industry in change, targeting 2040 to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and investing over $1B to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, our emissions. In doing so, we're setting a new standard for food production—one that allows sustainable practices, quality products, and affordable prices to go hand in hand. It's our way of bringing more to the table. Learn More   YOU TELL US GAME ON — Welcome to the Long Game, where we tell you about the latest on efforts to shape our future. We deliver data-driven storytelling, compelling interviews with industry and political leaders, and news Tuesday through Friday to keep you in the loop on sustainability. Team Sustainability is editor Greg Mott , deputy editor Debra Kahn and reporters Jordan Wolman and Allison Prang . Reach us all at gmott@politico.com , dkahn@politico.com , jwolman@politico.com and aprang@politico.com . Want more? Don't we all. Sign up for the Long Game . Four days a week and still free!   POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP .     WHAT WE'RE CLICKING — Sea-level rise forced residents off an island near the Virginia coast. Now, the ocean may be coming for more, the Washington Post reports . — Clean energy jobs in red states could be turning the tide on perception of the green energy transition, Bloomberg reports . — Don't look now, but your straw or packaging could contain captured greenhouse gases, the Wall Street Journal writes.   Mark your calendar! The fourth annual edition of the Future Sustainability Week will take place from November 29 to December 1. Take part in discussions about the most current and pressing sustainability policies together with our expert speakers. Join this three-day-long summit, either in Brussels or online, by  registering today !       Follow us on Twitter Debra Kahn @debra_kahn Greg Mott @gwmott Jordan Wolman @jordanwolman Allison Prang @AllisonPrang   Follow us

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