Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties

[muriel_volestrangler]

Once again negotiators will leave the plastic summit this week without a treaty, having failed to reach agreement in what was supposed to have been the final round of talks.

The delegates, who were attempting to complete a crucial treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis remain deadlocked over whether it should reduce exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics.

Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee, wrote and presented two drafts of treaty text in Geneva based on the views expressed by the participants. The representatives from 184 countries did not agree to use either one as the basis for their negotiations.

Valdivieso said on Friday morning, as the delegates reconvened in the assembly hall, that no further action was being proposed at this stage on the latest draft. Delegates are still in talks but have not decided on the next steps.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/15/plastic-pollution-talks-geneva-treaty

Speaking on behalf of the island states, the northern Pacific nation of Palau said on Friday: "We are repeatedly returning home with insufficient progress to show our people."
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The group, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, argue that better waste collection and recycling infrastructure is the best way of solving the problem, a view shared by many of the producers themselves.
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"Focusing on ending plastic pollution should be the priority here, not ending plastic production," he added, warning that attempts to substitute plastics with other materials could lead to "unintended consequences".

But many researchers warn that this approach is fundamentally flawed. Global recycling rates are estimated at only about 10%, with limits on how far that can rise.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpddpldleo

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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