Seoul, Dec 3, (dpa/GNA) – The fifth round of negotiations on a landmark UN plastics treaty, has ended without an agreement, marking a major setback in efforts to tackle growing plastic pollution.
Representatives from over 170 countries had been meeting in the South Korean city of Busan for a week, to decide on binding measures to contain global plastic pollution after years of preparation.
The meeting in Busan was originally intended as the final round of negotiations, but now, due to the lack of an agreement, the debate is to be continued next year. The draft text negotiated over the past seven days will serve as a basis.
The main unresolved issue, concerns a possible cap on plastic production, as called for by a coalition of over 100 like-minded states, including Mexico, Panama, Rwanda and the European Union.
Oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, on the other hand, have vehemently opposed production limits, instead calling for the agreement to focus on efficient waste management.
GNA