Negotiators failed to reach an agreement on a global plastic pollution treaty in South Korea. The talks will resume next year as countries remained far apart over key issues, including reducing plastic production and tackling toxic chemicals.
Over 100 countries want the treaty to limit plastic production and address cleanup and recycling. However, some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries oppose this, citing concerns about the impact on their industries.
India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, and other countries opposed changing the process to allow for a vote if consensus couldn’t be reached. They argued that consensus is vital for an inclusive and effective treaty.
The draft treaty still had multiple options for several key sections, leading environmental organizations to accuse it of becoming too watered down. Some delegates from Africa said they would rather leave Busan without a treaty than with a weak one.
The world produces over 400 million tons of new plastic every year, and production could increase by 70% by 2040 without policy changes. Countries like Ghana are struggling with plastic pollution, with communities and bodies of water choked with waste.
International leaders have urged caution and pragmatism in the talks, acknowledging that significant work remains to be done. The negotiations will resume next year, with countries reflecting on what they must see in the treaty moving forward.
A total of 175 nations agreed to make a first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution by the end of 2024. However, many are now questioning whether an ambitious timeline is realistic given the complexity of the issue.
The lack of transparency and inclusion during the negotiations has also been criticized, with environmental groups feeling silenced. Despite this, some countries remain hopeful that governments can reach an agreement with just a little more time.
South Korea’s foreign affairs minister stated that while a treaty was not reached in Busan, their efforts brought the world closer to a unified solution to ending global plastic pollution.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-treaty-south-korea-75187319a8cebc6e54fc1557ff40b266