Urgent Update: No Agreement on Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

BREAKING: Negotiators in Geneva have failed to reach an agreement on a critical treaty aimed at combating the escalating crisis of plastic pollution. After an intense 11-day negotiation at the United Nations office, nations are leaving without a landmark deal, which was expected to establish the first global, legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution, including in the oceans.

Discussions, held on Friday, November 3, 2023, remain deadlocked over key issues, specifically whether to impose limits on plastic production and establish global controls on toxic chemicals used in plastics. This failure echoes the previous negotiations in South Korea, where similar hurdles prevented a conclusive agreement.

The latest draft released earlier today acknowledges that current levels of plastic production—over 400 million tons annually—are “unsustainable” and require a coordinated global response. However, it stops short of placing any caps on production, a demand supported by approximately 100 countries. Panama’s Climate Envoy, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, expressed disappointment, stating the draft does not meet their aspirations but “can be the springboard to get there.”

The treaty’s objective has shifted to address the full lifecycle of plastics, but significant disagreements remain. Major oil and gas-producing nations and the plastics industry are advocating for a focus on waste management and recycling rather than production limits. As production is projected to increase by 70% by 2040 without policy changes, the stakes are high.

Delegates are still negotiating critical aspects of the treaty, including the management of plastic waste and the design of plastic products to enhance recyclability. The revised draft proposes measures that could lead to the reduction of harmful chemicals in plastics but leaves open whether these measures will be voluntary or binding.

As discussions continue into the day, the global community watches closely. The implications of this treaty extend beyond environmental concerns; they affect public health, marine ecosystems, and the future of sustainable practices worldwide. With the negotiations now extended, the urgency to find common ground has never been greater.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.