Countries negotiating a global treaty to address plastic pollution were unable to reach an agreement at the fifth meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea. More than 100 nations wanted to cap plastic production, while oil-producing countries were only willing to target plastic waste. The meeting ended without a legally binding accord, and talks will resume at a later date.
Divisive issues included capping production, managing products and chemicals of concern, and financing for developing countries to implement the treaty. A proposal backed by over 100 countries aimed to set global reduction targets for plastic production, but differences remained.
Oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia opposed efforts to reduce production, causing delays. The postponement follows the contentious COP29 climate summit in Baku, where a new global climate finance target of $300 billion annually was deemed insufficient by many countries.
Plastic production is set to triple by 2050, contributing to the presence of microplastics in various environments. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the toxicity of more than 3,200 chemicals found in plastics.
Despite the setback in negotiations, there is a sense of urgency to resume talks and address the plastic pollution crisis. The failure to reach an agreement underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for further deliberations to create an effective and inclusive treaty.
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