Political Gridlock: The Danger of Unyielding Agreements
The latest round of United Nations talks on a global plastic waste agreement, held last week in Geneva, concluded without a result. This failure marks the second such setback in three years, as efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement on managing the global plastic waste crisis continue to face challenges.
The talks were characterised by intense negotiations between two blocs, with the coalition of the ambitious, consisting of approximately 60 countries, pushing for binding limits on the production of new plastics and stricter regulation of proven toxic additives. The coalition, which includes the EU, Kenya, Rwanda, Panama, many Pacific states, and Israel, has been advocating for a full lifecycle approach to address the global plastic waste issue.
However, despite mounting pressure, the talks ended without a resolution. The inability of the two blocs to find common ground suggests a deep divide in opinions on this critical issue. It is worth noting that countries that have not supported the negotiations for a global agreement against plastic waste in recent years mainly include oil-producing states such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Russia. These countries prefer to limit the agreement to waste management and recycling rather than addressing the full lifecycle of plastics.
The failure to reach an agreement in the recent talks indicates ongoing challenges in addressing global plastic waste. The coalition had proposed concrete measures for the implementation and enforcement of a global plastic waste agreement, hoping to turn the tide in the fight against plastic pollution.
The UN talks on a global plastic waste agreement have been ongoing for three years, with the latest round being the last-ditch efforts following the failure in 2024. The failure to reach an agreement in 2024 was a significant setback, as it marked the end of the fifth round of talks.
The failure to reach an agreement in the recent talks is a reminder of the urgency to address the global plastic waste crisis. The coalition and other supporters of a comprehensive global agreement against plastic waste will likely continue their efforts to find a solution to this pressing issue.
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