UN talks to secure the first global treaty to curb plastic pollution

Talks to create a landmark pact against plastic pollution collapsed yesterday. Nearly 200 countries spent a week locked in negotiations in Busan, South Korea, from November 25 with the goal of agreeing the first global treaty to curb plastic pollution. But in the early hours of yesterday morning, negotiators conceded defeat, saying they had failed to bridge serious divisions over the aims of the treaty.

Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic. Plastic production could climb about 70 per cent by 2040 without policy changes – with huge amounts ending up polluting the Earth and harming wildlife.

Dozens of ‘high ambition’ countries sought an agreement that would set targets to limit new production of plastic and phase out certain chemicals and single-use plastic products at the summit, called Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee 5 (INC-5) That aim was repeatedly rejected by major oil-producers including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Kuwait which insisted the text should contain no reference to production. Oil is one of the main raw materials used to make plastic.

Inger Andersen (pictured), the head of the UN Environment Programme, said the talks would allow progress at future negotiations. ‘It obviously did not fail,’ Ms Andersen said, adding ‘What we do have is very, very good progress,’

Ms Andersen said the talks had produced a treaty text, which, while not agreed by all countries could still be the basis of future talks. But critics say the text could be open to renegotiation and amendment.

The final stage of the summit saw dozens of countries back new production targets and phasing out chemicals believed or known to be harmful. But Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz indicated that production cuts remains a red line for many nations. ‘If you address plastic pollution, there should be no problem with producing plastics, because the problem is the pollution, not the plastics themselves,’ he said.

No date or location has yet been set for resumed talks, though Saudi Arabia and others sought to restart no sooner than mid-2025. Ms Andersen said she remained ‘absolutely determined’ to win a deal next year.

‘Sooner is much better than later because we have a massive problem.’ Falco Martin, Marine Plastics expert from Fauna & Flora said of the collapse: ‘What could have been a moment of real change for the plague of plastic has been missed today.’

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