New push to reach global plastic pollution pact in Geneva

NEGOTIATORS will take another stab at reaching a global pact on plastic pollution at talks opening tomorrow in Geneva, but they face deep divisions over how to tackle the health and ecological hazard.

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The coming 10 days of talks involving delegates from nearly 180 nations follows a failure to reach a deal last December on how to stop millions of tons of plastic waste from entering the environment each year.

Plastic pollution is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peak, in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body.

In 2022, countries agreed they would find a way to address the crisis by the end of 2024, but the talks in Busan, South Korea, failed to overcome fundamental differences.

One group of countries sought an ambitious globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals.

However, a group of mostly oil-producing nations rejected production limits and wanted to focus on treating waste.

The stakes are high. If nothing is done, global plastic consumption could triple by 2060, according to OECD projections.