Overview

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced new negotiations for a global plastics treaty from August 5 to 14 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The December 2024 talks in Busan, South Korea, ended without agreement due to disagreements over key issues like capping global plastic production and financing for developing countries.
• Plastic pollution continues to pose significant global challenges, with microplastics found in human bodies, marine ecosystems, and remote environments.
• Over 100 nations support a treaty draft that includes reducing global plastic production, while oil-producing states oppose such caps.
• The upcoming talks will involve nearly 200 nations, with observers from environmental, health, and industry groups aiming to finalize a legally binding treaty.