Negotiators fail to finalize global plastic treaty in South Korea, talks to continue in 2025

Negotiators in South Korea failed to reach a global treaty on plastic pollution after a week of talks. They plan to resume discussions next year due to disagreements over reducing plastic production and controlling toxic chemicals. The meeting was intended to finalize a legally binding treaty by the end of 2024. However, key issues remain unresolved, including the scope of the treaty and the need for consensus among participating countries. Countries like Ghana and Rwanda emphasized the need for an ambitious treaty, while others, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, opposed expanding the treaty's focus to include production limits. The negotiations highlighted ongoing tensions between environmental goals and the interests of plastic-producing nations.