Saudi Arabia is leading a pushback against a global plastic treaty, joining forces with Russia and other oil-exporting nations to block measures that would curb excessive plastic production.
Delegates from over 170 countries are working on a treaty aimed at tackling the growing problem of plastic waste. However, Saudi Arabia has argued that addressing supply “penalizes industries without addressing the actual issue of plastic pollution.”
The country’s delegation has insisted on unanimity for every decision and raised frequent objections over procedure, slowing down progress. Other nations have criticized these tactics, with some delegates accusing them of trying to delay negotiations.
Despite opposition from Saudi Arabia, a coalition of more than 100 countries has signed onto a proposal to set a global target to reduce plastic production. Researchers estimate that nearly half a billion tons of plastic are produced each year, and only 9% is recycled.
The talks are in their final stretch, with the deadline for completion set on Sunday. The U.N.-led negotiations aim to address plastic pollution from production to disposal, but it remains unclear if an agreement can be reached.
Saudi Arabia’s stance on the treaty has been criticized by environmental groups and observers, who see it as a threat to global progress on addressing plastic pollution.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/30/climate/saudi-arabia-global-plastic-treaty.html