Negotiations for a United Nations treaty to tackle plastic pollution have concluded in Geneva without a final agreement, delegates reported Friday. Representatives from Norway, India and Uruguay confirmed the inability to reach consensus on a proposed draft agreement.
Disagreements centered primarily on the future production of plastics, revealing a clear division between opposing blocs. Sources indicate that oil-producing nations, alongside several other countries, held differing positions from delegates representing the European Union and Latin American nations, who were supported by environmental advocacy groups.
The negotiations, initially scheduled to conclude on Thursday, were extended into Friday in an effort to bridge the gaps. This outcome follows unproductive discussions in Busan, South Korea, last December, which were intended to be the final round for the treaty.
The chair of the talks, Luis Vayas Valdivieso and numerous delegations acknowledged the lack of consensus. Signs of difficulty emerged late Thursday evening when Valdivieso adjourned the negotiations shortly before midnight, causing confusion among some delegates who were uncertain whether discussions would resume overnight. Concerns regarding Valdivieso’s handling of the process and dissatisfaction with the level of ambition within the draft text presented on Wednesday, were voiced by several participants.
