Although representatives of some 170 UN member states negotiated for more than seven days, they could not agree on an agreement against plastic waste. They “are on the scene,” the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Germany said on Monday evening.
This was the third round of negotiations. According to the WWF, opposition to the agreement, which is intended to reduce plastic waste, came mainly from oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran. That would have taken a lot of time and almost brought the negotiations to a complete standstill, says Florian Titze of the WWF. As a result, negotiators would not have been able to continue political work on the text for an agreement, nor would they have been able to organize technical working groups for it.
The only thing they agreed on was that the agreement should cover the entire life cycle of plastic, and not just waste management and disposal issues. UN member states had already decided in March 2022 to strive for a global agreement on the handling of plastic (see video above). It is intended to establish binding measures, for example quantities for production, the design of plastic products and the disposal and recycling of waste.
The decision should follow in 2025
Criticism of the failed negotiations came from environmental organization Greenpeace. “If negotiations continue as before and one proposal after another is watered down, the plastic problem will worsen dramatically. “Plastics harm all of the more than eight billion people on our planet, but some state representatives have decided they would rather support the profits of plastic companies than the well-being of citizens,” spokeswoman Lisa Panhuber said in a news release.
After the meetings in Uruguay, France and Kenya, two more rounds of negotiations will follow next year. The decision is expected at a state summit in mid-2025.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
