Negotiators from over 100 countries have gathered in Geneva for what is hoped to be the final round of talks to establish a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. The urgency is high, with plastic production expected to triple by 2060, largely driven by single-use plastics.
Key Issues and Divisions:
Most countries support a treaty that reduces plastic production and phases out harmful single-use plastics and toxic chemicals.
Fossil-fuel-producing nations like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia oppose production limits, favoring recycling and product redesign instead.
The EU and the High Ambition Coalition want the treaty to address the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
Consensus is required for all treaty decisions, though some are pushing for voting mechanisms to avoid deadlock—an idea opposed by countries like India and Iran.
Participants and Stakes:
More than 3,700 delegates, including governments, industry, scientists, and activists, are attending the 10-day session.
A recent Lancet study warns plastic pollution is a “grave and growing danger” costing the world $1.5 trillion annually, harming human health and the planet at all lifecycle stages.
Greenpeace is calling for a 75% cut in plastic production by 2040, warning that recycling alone cannot solve the crisis.
What’s at Risk:
If negotiators settle for politically convenient compromises without addressing production, experts warn the treaty could be environmentally ineffective and fail to halt the worsening crisis.
The world faces a narrow window to adopt meaningful and enforceable solutions. Decisions made in Geneva will help determine whether future generations inherit a cleaner planet—or a worsening plastic crisis.
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