Negotiations on global plastic pollution treaty end without agreement in South Korea

Negotiations for a treaty to combat plastic pollution ended in Busan, South Korea, without an agreement. This was intended to be the final round of talks to create a legally binding treaty by the end of 2024. Countries will reconvene next year to continue discussions. The recent session included over 3,300 participants from more than 170 countries. A key issue was whether to limit plastic production, with Panama proposing a global target to be decided later. Environmental groups expressed disappointment over the closed-door negotiations, feeling their voices were excluded. Despite the lack of agreement, some delegates remain optimistic about reaching a treaty in future meetings.