Oil-producing nations block UN treaty on plastic limits at summit in South Korea

A group of major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, has blocked a UN summit in Busan, South Korea, from reaching a binding treaty to limit plastic production and use. The summit began discussions on November 25. Despite intense negotiations, delegates acknowledged the need for more time to address differing views. The UN plans to reconvene in 2025 to continue discussions on a legally binding instrument for plastic pollution. Saudi Arabia's delegate stated that the issue is pollution, not plastic production itself. Russia argued that limiting plastic production is economically motivated, as petrochemicals are expected to drive future oil demand.