Despite running on Thursday’s deadline, representatives of 185 countries failed to reach a deal to bring the world closer to end plastic pollution with a legally binding, global agreement.
Norway’s negotiator said after a conversation in Geneva, “We will not have a treaty to abolish plastic pollution here in Geneva.”
Meeting on the 11th day of negotiations, countries are caressed whether the treaty should reduce the increase in plastic production and legally binding on toxic chemicals used to make plastic or focus more on recycling, reuse and better design.
Cuba said, “We have missed a historical opportunity, but we have to work immediately. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty.”
What issues were divided by the countries in plastic pollution talks?
Large oil and gas-producing countries and plastic industry opposed the limit on plastic production. Instead, they wanted a treaty that emphasized better waste management and reuse.
Kuwait said, “Our views are not reflected … Without a agreeable scope, this process could not live on the right track and the risks that slide below a slipry slope,” said Kuwait.
The Chinese delegation compared to abolish plastic pollution in a marathon and said that Friday’s collapsed talks represented a temporary shock and served as a new early point for consent.
The European Union, Britain, Canada and many African and Latin American countries wanted to make a treaty for the need for high ambition alliances, decreased plastic production and the need for elimination of toxic chemicals used in plastic.
European Commissioner Jessica Roswal said that the European Union and its member states had high expectations for this meeting and while the draft is low on their demands, it is a good basic for another interaction session.
He said, “The Earth is not ours. We are stewers for those who come after us. Let us fulfill the duty,” he said, the European Union will continue for a strong, binding agreement that protects public health and protects the environment.
what happens next?
For any proposal, every nation must have to make it in the current treaty.
India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Vietnam and others have said that consensus is important for an effective treatment. But other countries want to change this process so that the decisions can be made by one vote.
“We are going into circles. We can’t continue to do the same work and expect a different result,” said Graham Forbes, head of the Greenpeace delegation in Geneva.
Palau expressed disappointment in an attempt made in the talks, speaking to 39 small islands developing states and then “returning home with insufficient progress to show his people again and again.”
Similar plastic pollution negotiations in South Korea last year collapsed without compromise.
How much plastic do we produce and what happens to it?
Every year, the world creates more than 400 million tonnes of new plastics, and it can increase by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes.
More than half of plastic produced per year is used only. Although 15% of plastic waste is collected for recycling, only 9% is actually recycled.
About 46%, ends in landfills, 17% is dissolved and 22% is unlikely and garbage in land or oceans.
