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11h ago

U.S. and Oil Producers Oppose Caps in Final Geneva Plastic Treaty Talks

U.S. letters urging rejection of upstream production limits have deepened rifts that could prevent agreement on binding measures

A chicken stands at garbage dump filled with plastics in Rodriguez, Rizal province, Philippines, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo
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Plastic waste is littered across the beach of Costa del Este, in Panama City, in April 2021. Countries are gathering in Geneva from Aug. 5 to 14, with the hopes of passing a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution.
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Overview

  • Delegates from 175 countries have gathered in Geneva for the final round of UN-led treaty talks aiming to curb plastic pollution by Aug. 14
  • Communications dated July 25 show the U.S. urged select nations to reject proposals on capping virgin plastic output and restricting chemical additives
  • Major oil-producing states and petrochemical lobbies are pressing to focus the treaty on recycling and waste management rather than upstream production limits
  • Over 100 countries, including EU members and small island states, continue to advocate for legally binding caps on plastic production and full lifecycle provisions
  • Scientific studies highlight pervasive microplastic contamination in every tested organism; groups like Greenpeace call for a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040