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UN Plastic Treaty Talks Collapse Over Production Cap Disputes

Negotiations in Busan stalled as oil-producing nations resisted limits on plastic production, delaying a global agreement to tackle pollution.

  • The fifth round of UN negotiations in Busan, South Korea, ended without consensus, postponing decisions on a global plastic treaty to 2025.
  • A coalition of over 100 countries pushed for binding limits on plastic production, but oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia blocked progress.
  • Key disagreements included capping production, phasing out harmful chemicals, and financing mechanisms to help developing nations address plastic pollution.
  • Critics argue the consensus-based decision-making process allowed a minority of nations to obstruct meaningful action, prompting calls for voting reforms in future talks.
  • Environmental advocates warn that delays exacerbate the plastic crisis, with millions of tons of waste entering oceans annually and production projected to triple by 2050.
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