Pressure is on to secure world’s first treaty on plastic pollution

NEGOTIATORS looking to secure the world’s first treaty to combat plastic pollution are under pressure to secure an ambitious deal this week after previous talks ended without consensus.

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Countries will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, tomorrow for another attempt to reach a legally binding international agreement on plastics.

The 10-day conference has been organised after negotiators failed to adopt a treaty in November during what was meant to be the final round of talks in South Korea.

Since negotiations began in 2022, countries have struggled to resolve some key issues, resulting in a deadlock that has stalled global efforts to tackle the pollution crisis.

Going into Geneva, the rift between countries persists, with some continuing to push for a less ambitious deal that solely focuses on reducing plastic waste while others want a treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including limiting production.

The UK has been part of a “high ambition coalition” of countries which are calling for binding obligations on reducing production and consumption, sustainable product design, environmentally sound management of plastic waste and cleanup of pollution.