Environment Negotiations on UN plastics agreement to be concluded
The international negotiations on a first UN agreement to reduce plastic waste are to be concluded on Sunday in Busan, South Korea. Diplomats and environmental organizations warned on Saturday of failure due to ongoing differences.
01.12.2024, 07:30
SDA
Plastic pollution is an increasingly urgent problem worldwide. Residues of highly persistent plastic pollution have now been detected in the remotest parts of the world and in practically every part of the human body.
More than 100 countries support an ambitious plastic treaty, but face resistance from a handful of predominantly oil-producing countries that supply the raw materials for plastic. It could therefore come down to a vote in Busan, meaning that the agreement would not be adopted by consensus as is usual at the United Nations. It is also conceivable that the chair of the talks will wave through an agreement despite the objections of participating countries or that the agreement will be postponed once again.
