Countries fail to reach consensus on plastic pollution treaty
Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, amid divisions over whether to cap production.
BUSAN, South Korea — Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil producers were prepared only to target plastic waste.
The fifth U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting intended to yield a legally binding global treaty in Busan, South Korea, was meant to be the final one.
However, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of a treaty and could agree only to postpone key decisions and resume talks, dubbed INC 5.2, to a later date.
“It is clear that there is still persisting divergence,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program.
The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
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