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| Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties | Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties |
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| Countries deadlocked on whether legally binding deal should include curbs on production and toxic chemicals | Countries deadlocked on whether legally binding deal should include curbs on production and toxic chemicals |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Palau, speaking for 39 small island developing states (Sids), voiced frustration at repeatedly investing resources and personnel in such discussion and “repeatedly returning home with insufficient progress to show our people … It is unjust for Sids to face the brunt of yet another global environmental crisis we contribute minimally to.” | Palau, speaking for 39 small island developing states (Sids), voiced frustration at repeatedly investing resources and personnel in such discussion and “repeatedly returning home with insufficient progress to show our people … It is unjust for Sids to face the brunt of yet another global environmental crisis we contribute minimally to.” |
| Representatives of Norway, Australia, Tuvalu and other countries said they were deeply disappointed to be leaving Geneva without a treaty. | Representatives of Norway, Australia, Tuvalu and other countries said they were deeply disappointed to be leaving Geneva without a treaty. |
| The European commissioner Jessika Roswall said the EU and its member states had higher expectations for this meeting, but while the draft fell short of demands, it would be a good basis for another negotiating session. | The European commissioner Jessika Roswall said the EU and its member states had higher expectations for this meeting, but while the draft fell short of demands, it would be a good basis for another negotiating session. |
| “The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfil that duty,” she said. | “The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfil that duty,” she said. |
| Saudi Arabia said both drafts lacked balance, and Saudi and Kuwaiti negotiators said the latest proposal took other states’ views more into account and addressed plastic production, which they considered outside the scope of the treaty. | Saudi Arabia said both drafts lacked balance, and Saudi and Kuwaiti negotiators said the latest proposal took other states’ views more into account and addressed plastic production, which they considered outside the scope of the treaty. |
| That draft, released early on Friday, did not include a limit on plastic production but recognised that current levels of production and consumption were “unsustainable” and global action was needed. | That draft, released early on Friday, did not include a limit on plastic production but recognised that current levels of production and consumption were “unsustainable” and global action was needed. |
| New language had been added to say these levels exceeded current waste management capacities and were projected to increase further, “thereby necessitating a coordinated global response to halt and reverse such trends”. | New language had been added to say these levels exceeded current waste management capacities and were projected to increase further, “thereby necessitating a coordinated global response to halt and reverse such trends”. |
| The objective of the treaty was also revamped to state that the accord would be based on a comprehensive approach that addressed the full lifecycle of plastics. | The objective of the treaty was also revamped to state that the accord would be based on a comprehensive approach that addressed the full lifecycle of plastics. |
| The biggest issue of the talks has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things such as better design, recycling and reuse. | The biggest issue of the talks has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things such as better design, recycling and reuse. |
| Powerful oil- and gas-producing countries and the plastics industry oppose production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse. | Powerful oil- and gas-producing countries and the plastics industry oppose production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse. |
| Every year, the world makes more than 400m tonnes of new plastic, and that could increase by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. About 100 countries want to limit production. Many said it was also essential to address toxic chemicals used to make plastics. | Every year, the world makes more than 400m tonnes of new plastic, and that could increase by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. About 100 countries want to limit production. Many said it was also essential to address toxic chemicals used to make plastics. |
| Thursday was the last scheduled day of negotiations, but work on the revised draft continued into Friday. | Thursday was the last scheduled day of negotiations, but work on the revised draft continued into Friday. |
| Science showed what it would take to end pollution and protect human health, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg who co-leads the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. | Science showed what it would take to end pollution and protect human health, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg who co-leads the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. |
| The science supported addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, beginning with extraction and production, and restricting some chemicals to ensure plastics were safer and more sustainable, she added. “The science has not changed,” Almroth said. “It cannot be down negotiated.” | The science supported addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, beginning with extraction and production, and restricting some chemicals to ensure plastics were safer and more sustainable, she added. “The science has not changed,” Almroth said. “It cannot be down negotiated.” |
| Senior Lawyer and Policy Advisor at the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency Tim Grabiel said: “This time, the petrostates not only took the plastics treaty hostage but tried to strangle it in the bathtub and bury the body. | |
| “The petrostates used every dirty tactic in the multilateral playbook to delay and deceive, dither and destroy an effective plastics treaty.” | |
| Environmentalists, waste pickers, Indigenous leaders and business executives travelled to the talks to make their voices heard. Some used creative tactics but are leaving disappointed. Indigenous leaders sought a treaty that recognised their rights and knowledge. | Environmentalists, waste pickers, Indigenous leaders and business executives travelled to the talks to make their voices heard. Some used creative tactics but are leaving disappointed. Indigenous leaders sought a treaty that recognised their rights and knowledge. |