Countries fail to agree on global plastic treaty at UN talks in South Korea

Countries at the UN talks in Busan, South Korea, failed to agree on a global treaty to reduce plastic pollution. Over 100 nations supported capping plastic production, while a few oil-producing countries only wanted to address plastic waste. Key decisions have been postponed for further discussions. The meeting, known as INC-5, was expected to finalize a legally binding treaty but revealed deep divisions on issues like production caps and financing for developing nations. A revised document presented at the meeting still contained contentious options, indicating ongoing disagreements. Negotiators highlighted the complexity of achieving a global agreement. Some expressed urgency to resume talks, emphasizing that delays do not alleviate the plastic crisis. The next round of discussions, termed INC 5.2, will be scheduled for a later date.