Busan, South Korea, 1 December 2024 – Greenpeace has called for the immediate release of four international activists from Britain, Germany, Taiwan, and Mexico who were detained by South Korean authorities following a peaceful protest against a petrochemical shipment on 30 November. The protest coincided with the final stages of the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Busan.
The activists, part of Greenpeace International, highlighted the urgent need for a treaty that commits to cutting plastic production, resisting pressure from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries. The group launched from Greenpeace’s flagship vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, using inflatable boats to board the tanker Buena Alba. While some activists climbed the ship’s mast, others painted “Plastic kills” on its side using washable paint.
The Buena Alba, a 96-metre tanker, was scheduled to load propylene—a fossil fuel-based ingredient in plastic production—at the Hyundai Daesan Refinery within South Korea’s Daesan Petrochemical Complex.
Graham Forbes, Greenpeace Head of Delegation to the treaty talks and Global Plastics Campaign Lead, stated:
“The bravery of these activists, enduring freezing conditions to amplify the urgent call for reducing plastic production, should inspire negotiators to deliver a historic treaty. We urge the South Korean authorities to release the activists immediately. Their peaceful actions echo the demands of millions worldwide for a meaningful solution to plastic pollution.”
The Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, concluding today, are being closely watched as a critical opportunity to address the escalating global plastic crisis.
