The German government is prepared to pursue international agreements on plastic waste reduction independently of nations obstructing progress in current United Nations negotiations, according to recent statements. Negotiations in Geneva, aimed at establishing a global UN agreement, face significant hurdles, particularly due to the non-participation of the United States and Russia.
State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth, from the Federal Environment Ministry, emphasized in an interview with “ARD-Tagesthemen” that progress shouldn’t be stalled by a small number of dissenting parties. Should the Geneva talks fail to yield a viable outcome, the government believes it’s necessary to explore alternative pathways toward a global solution. He stated that continued negotiations – a “new round” – would be required.
The current stalemate is attributed to a growing global lack of cooperation, with the United States cited as a leading factor. Reaching consensus on measures like limiting initial plastic production-often referred to as a “cap”-proves particularly challenging within the ongoing discussions.
Responding to inquiries regarding recycling efforts within Germany, Flasbarth acknowledged the nation’s competitive standing on a global scale. However, he conceded that advancements are still needed to achieve true closed-loop recycling, where products are transformed back into new products. He specifically underscored the need for improvements across the entire European Union in this area.
