UN Negotiations on Plastic Treaty Conclude Without Agreement

“These unresolved issues remain challenging, and additional time will be needed to address them effectively.”

A high-stakes meeting held this week in Busan, South Korea, aimed to finalize a global agreement on plastic pollution, following two years of negotiations. U.N. member states had previously committed to establishing “an internationally binding agreement by 2024.”

However, hopes for a deal fell apart as countries were unable to overcome major divisions. Key sticking points included whether to impose limits on plastic production, strategies for phasing out harmful plastic products and chemicals, and identifying a viable approach to finance the treaty.

Leading opposition to stricter measures were Saudi Arabia and Russia, which spearheaded a coalition of oil-rich and plastic-producing nations known as the “like-minded group.” This bloc resisted any proposals that could curtail plastic production, a stance largely driven by the fact that most plastics are derived from oil or natural gas, cornerstones of their economies.


Comments

2 responses to “UN Negotiations on Plastic Treaty Conclude Without Agreement”

  1. Clover Dragon Avatar
    Clover Dragon

    Talk about a classic case of “let’s all sit around and chat while the planet sinks!” 🌍 At this rate, I’d say we should just hand out complimentary plastic straws at the next summit—seems to be the only agreement they can reach! 😂

  2. miss mustard Avatar
    miss mustard

    Oh, brilliant! Another round of “let’s pretend to care about plastic pollution” – I mean, who needs clean oceans when we can just keep kicking the can down the road? 🌍💁‍♂️ Cheers to more endless chit-chat while the planet drowns in our delightful plastic soup! 🍽️

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Bible Dictionary (H)

Bible Dictionary (H)

Habakkuk
Habakkuk (Hebrew: חֲבַקּוּק – Ḥavaqquq; Greek: Ἀμβακοὺμ) is among the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament and the author of the book bearing his name. His Hebrew name Ḥavaqquq means “embrace” or “beloved”, transcribed as Ambakoúm in the Septuagint. The Bible does not specify his birth details, but tradition suggests he lived in Judea, likely Jerusalem, between 714–700 BC, alongsid

Read More

Europe has the defense budget; the real challenge is delivery.

Europe has the defense budget; the real challenge is delivery.

Four strategies could accelerate Europe’s progress.
The first is adopting multi-speed procurement. Software-driven systems like drones improve rapidly and require procurement that matches this pace. Israel’s Iron Dome began with limited capabilities and continuously improved. European defense ministries have established high-speed procurement units with dedicated teams and higher risk

Read More

Hospitality Faces a Profitability Challenge, Not a VAT Issue

Hospitality Faces a Profitability Challenge, Not a VAT Issue

Every few years, the hospitality industry returns to the same debate: reduce VAT, cut tax and save restaurants.
A lower rate of VAT would undoubtedly help many businesses, but after operating restaurants every day I believe we are asking the wrong question.
The real issue is not how much tax restaurants pay. It is whether many restaurants are commercially viable before tax is even calculated. Th

Read More

EU Launches Public Consultation for Major Education Reform

EU Launches Public Consultation for Major Education Reform

The European Commission initiated a Call for Evidence to collect public feedback in preparation for a new Education Package, expected to be revealed in November, according to the European Education Area office announcement on July 30. This consultation is the first official step toward potentially one of the bloc’s most significant education policy updates in recent years.
Three Pillars of

Read More

Spain’s Concerns Over Its Isolated African Territories

Spain’s Concerns Over Its Isolated African Territories

“We should strive to maintain friendly relations with Morocco,” he stated. “However, it is crucial that even friends recognize there are boundaries that must not be crossed.”
Colonial Legacies
Ceuta and Melilla are among the last remnants of the extensive Spanish Empire. They have been under Madrid’s administration since 1668 and 1497, respectively, and are fully integrated within Spain and the Eu

Read More

App Provides Opportunity to Explore and Stay Fit

App Provides Opportunity to Explore and Stay Fit

A retired telecoms worker from Belgium is among those behind an innovative smartphone app  that aims to keep you fit and discover “hidden gems” all over the world.
Philippe Pleckspaen helped launch “Jooks”, an application that helps you navigate your way around a locality, spotlighting places of interest.
The idea is that users do this while running or cycling at the same time but the device can

Read More

Bible Dictionary, Volume 2

Bible Dictionary, Volume 2

Akeldama Field of Blood
Akeldama (Aramaic: חֲקַל דְּמָא — Hăqal Dəmā’, Greek: Ἁκελδαμά), or Field of Blood, is the place in Jerusalem where, according to the New Testament, Judas Iscariot was buried or where a field was purchased with the money he received for betraying Jesus Christ. The name comes from Aramaic and means “field of blood”.
Usage in Scripture: In Matthew 27:3–8, after betraying Je

Read More

Former Kyiv Commander Says NATO is Outdated for Ukraine

Former Kyiv Commander Says NATO is Outdated for Ukraine

Russia has significantly altered its military forces due to war pressures, causing concern among politicians and intelligence officials that it might attack a NATO country by decade’s end.
Zaluzhnyi’s unusual criticism highlights a shift in the alliance’s relationship with Ukraine. The nation has evolved from depending on European military aid in the early war years to becoming o

Read More

Some MEPs call for EU Parliament to reconvene over Ceuta crisis

Some MEPs call for EU Parliament to reconvene over Ceuta crisis

Some MEPs have formally requested that the European Parliament be convened on an “exceptional basis” for an urgent debate on the migration crisis in Ceuta.
This, they say, should be with the participation of the Council and the European Commission.
The parliament is currently in recess for the summer and reconvening would be an exceptional step.
The extraordinary surge of arrivals has left at le

Read More

Europe Tries to Break Its Palantir Habit — But Can It?

Europe Tries to Break Its Palantir Habit — But Can It?

A quiet rebellion is unfolding across European capitals against one of Silicon Valley’s leading data companies. Authorities in countries such as France, Germany, and Spain are taking steps to reduce their dependence on Palantir Technologies, the American data-analytics firm deeply embedded in the continent’s policing, defense, health, and intelligence sectors—and they are finding it challenging t

Read More