Negotiators fail to reach plastic pollution treaty in South Korea talks

Negotiators in Busan, South Korea, have not reached an agreement on a treaty to reduce plastic pollution after a week of talks. Deep divisions remain between countries wanting strict production limits and those focused on waste management. Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso announced that more time is needed to address unresolved issues. A draft text released showed significant disagreement among nearly 200 nations involved in the discussions. Some countries, particularly oil producers, are seen as obstructing progress. Over 100 nations support production cuts, but the positions of major plastic producers like China and the U.S. remain unclear.