Overview

• Negotiations in Geneva ended after nearly two weeks of talks involving 184 countries, with no agreement or new session date announced.
• A majority of over 100 states, led by the EU and many developing nations, had sought binding targets to reduce plastic inputs by 2040 while oil-exporting countries resisted production limits.
• Disputes over production caps, chemical controls and financing for low-income countries were exacerbated by petrochemical industry lobbying.
• In response to the collapse, proposals are emerging for a coalition of willing countries to adopt national and regional limits on plastic output, recycling mandates and dedicated financing.
• Consumer groups and national agencies are promoting individual plastic reduction measures in light of annual global output nearing 460 million tonnes with rising microplastic pollution.