Geneva Plastic Treaty Talks End with Disappointment

Geneva Plastic Treaty Talks End with Disappointment
————————-
According to a report by Earth.com, recent negotiations in Geneva to create a global treaty on plastic pollution have ended without an agreement, marking a significant setback.
The talks involved delegates from 185 countries but were stalled by a fundamental split between two groups of nations. The “High Ambition Coalition,” which includes the UK, Canada, and EU countries, sought an ambitious treaty that would limit plastic production and phase out harmful chemicals. In contrast, the “Like-Minded Group,” which consists of oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia, advocated for a treaty focused solely on waste management, arguing that production cuts would harm developing nations.
The negotiations were described as tense, with officials expressing frustration at the failure to reach a deal and accusing some countries of blocking progress for financial reasons. The article notes that over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with only a small fraction ever being recycled. The problem is expected to worsen, with production potentially tripling by 2060.