UN plastic pollution summit ends early, without treaty

After 10 days of talks, the UN’s International Governmental Negotiating Committee on Friday ended its annual meeting on plastic pollution early and without reaching a consensus. Delegates disagreed sharply on a proposed antipollution treaty, which would have been legally binding. However, all of the countries represented at the summit wanted to resume negotiations in the future, according to Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program.

What did a version of the plastic treaty propose? A draft text said countries should ban, manage, or reduce the use of plastic products that are difficult to recycle or likely to enter the environment. Developed nations should financially assist developing countries in curtailing plastics, according to the document. The proposal also said countries should push their manufacturers to make plastic products more recyclable or durable and should socially assist workers affected by the changes.

What countries discussed the treaty? The International Governmental Negotiating Committee, which met in Geneva, is a United Nations group with over 1,400 delegates from 183 countries. Observers from about 400 organizations also attended the summit. Some observers gave comments during the meetings, but after 24 hours observers were barred from doing so at the request of the United States and Kuwait, according to the Associated Press.

Dig deeper: Read my report on a top UN court’s recent ruling that a clean environment is a human right.