Plastic pollution treaty talks in Geneva end without an agreement

Negotiations for a landmark treaty to combat plastic pollution ended without agreement in Geneva on Friday, leaving the global crisis unresolved. Representatives from 184 countries convened for 11 days at the United Nations office, aiming to finalize the first legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution, particularly in oceans.

However, disputes over capping plastic production and regulating toxic chemicals in plastics, primarily made from fossil fuels, led to a deadlock.Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, noted, “we have to accept that significant progress was made,” despite the setback.

The talks, intended as the final round, failed to adopt either of the two draft treaties presented by committee chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso. The latest draft acknowledged “unsustainable” production levels and called for a “coordinated global response” but omitted production limits, a point of contention for oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, who prioritize waste management and reuse.

European Commissioner Jessika Roswall expressed disappointment, stating, “The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us.” With over 400 million tons of plastic produced annually, projected to rise 70% by 2040, nations like Denmark urged compromise, noting, “a compromise means that we have to bend our red lines.” Talks are set to resume later.