Climate Politics
UN Plastic Treaty Talks Disappoint Those Pushing for Production Cap
Negotiations in Ottawa pitted a “high ambition” bloc of nations against countries seeking a more limited treaty focused on managing plastic waste.
Empty plastic bottles on a production line.
Photographer: Angel Garcia/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The penultimate round of United Nations talks toward a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution ended in disappointment for countries and environmental groups pushing for limits on production.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution concluded a week-long meeting in Ottawa in the early hours of Tuesday morning. While negotiators celebrated signs of progress toward an agreement, advocates expressed dismay that meetings planned for the coming months will not address the creation of new plastic.