No agreement reached on plastics - UN, divergences over production limit postpone talks
Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach an agreement, with more than 100 countries wanting to limit production while a handful of oil producers were prepared to target only plastic waste.
The fifth meeting of the UN's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), in Busan, South Korea, aimed to create a legally binding global treaty.
However, the countries remained far from agreement on the basic purpose of a treaty and could only agree to postpone key decisions and resume talks, called INC 5.2, at a later date.
"It is clear that there is still ongoing divergence," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme.
The most divisive issues included limiting plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals, and funding to help developing countries implement the treaty.
An option proposed by Panama, supported by more than 100 countries, would have paved the way for a global target to reduce plastic production, while another proposal did not include production limits.
Fault lines were visible in a document released by meeting chairman Luis Vayas Valdivieso that could form the basis of a treaty but contained many different options on the most sensitive issues.
A small number of petrochemical-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have strongly opposed efforts to reduce plastic production and have tried to use procedural tactics to delay negotiations.
China, the United States, India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia were the top five polymer-producing countries in 2023, according to data provider Eunomia.
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