Countries push for binding plastic production targets after talks stall in South Korea

Eighty-five countries are calling for binding targets to reduce plastic production after recent talks in Busan, South Korea, ended without agreement. The negotiations aimed to finalize a treaty on plastic pollution but faced a deadlock over production cuts. Countries supporting production reductions, including the UK and EU, expressed disappointment at the lack of consensus. They argue that legally binding measures are essential for an effective treaty. In contrast, nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia opposed any cuts to production. Future meetings are planned, but significant divisions remain. No date has been set for the next talks, and some countries prefer to delay discussions until mid-2025. The recent talks saw a large presence of plastic industry lobbyists, outnumbering many country representatives.