International accord on stemming plastic pollution remains elusive - International accord on plastic pollution remains unachieved temporarily
In a setback for efforts to combat escalating global plastic pollution, negotiations for a historic treaty to address the issue have temporarily failed during meetings in Geneva. The treaty, which aimed to cover the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to design to disposal, was met with a deadlock between two major groups of countries.
The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), comprising countries such as Norway and the EU, pushed for a legally binding treaty that reduces plastic production, bans toxic chemicals in plastics, and includes voting-based decision-making. On the other hand, the Like-Minded Group, consisting of countries like India, Malaysia, and those with raw materials for plastic such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia, rejected the inclusion of production caps and chemical bans, insisted on consensus-based decision-making, and emphasized not impeding developing countries' sustainable development.
This fundamental disagreement on the treaty’s core elements—whether it should focus on strictly regulating plastic production and hazardous chemicals or remain more flexible, prioritizing waste management and supporting developing countries’ growth—created what negotiators called a "fault line," preventing consensus. As consensus is required for treaty approval, this impasse caused the negotiations to collapse, marking another failure after a previous breakdown in South Korea in 2024.
The HAC, which also includes Germany, the EU, and numerous countries in South America, Africa, and Asia, demand a restriction on production to a sustainable level, aim to phase out single-use plastics, promote reusable plastic products, and foster a circular economy. Conversely, the Like-Minded Group largely wants to focus on better waste management.
The stalled negotiations come as worrying new findings highlight the damaging effects of plastic on health and the environment. Nano- and microplastic particles, for example, have been found to impair the immune system, settle in arteries, and promote inflammation. Plastic pollutes seas and the environment, poisons ecosystems, kills fish and other creatures, and endangers human health. Estimates suggest there are 152 million tonnes of plastic waste in rivers and oceans worldwide.
The UN countries' mandate for 2022 aimed for a legally binding contract, but after three years of negotiations, the draft text could not be agreed upon. Around 180 countries were involved in the negotiations, with more than 100 countries with particularly ambitious goals demanding a restriction on production to a sustainable level. Studies show that small particles are increasingly found in organs and even in the brain.
Florian Tize of the environmental foundation WWF stated that "No agreement is better than one that cements the status quo at the UN level instead of being a real solution to the plastic crisis." The negotiations will continue, but no new date has been set.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5]
Read also:
- Amidst India's escalating climate crisis, transgender individuals continue to persevere
- Germany's three-month tenure under Merz's administration feels significantly extended
- Governing body allegedly persists in enjoying vacation time amidst Spain's highest danger level due to fires, claims Feijóo
- United Nations Human Rights Evaluation, Session 45: United Kingdom's Statement Regarding Mauritius' Human Rights Record
