No agreement reached in UN plastic pollution talks | BBC News

Summary

UN talks on a global treaty to tackle plastic waste ended in deadlock, with no agreement despite extended negotiations. Key issues centered on plastic production and its environmental impact, with oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, opposing stricter regulations. Environmental groups criticized these nations for prioritizing short-term profits over long-term environmental health. Scientists are particularly concerned about rising plastic production, low recycling rates, and the harmful effects of plastics on human health and ecosystems. If no deal is reached, the process may shift to future negotiations or a vote, though this would be unusual for environmental talks.

Takeaways

• 😀 The UN talks on a global treaty for waste plastics ended without a deal despite extended negotiations.
• 😀 Some oil-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, advocated for lighter regulation on plastic production.
• 😀 The European delegation viewed the talks as a positive step for future negotiations, despite the deadlock.
• 😀 The talks have been ongoing for over two years, with a deadline set for December, but were extended into overtime.
• 😀 The key sticking point in the talks was the issue of plastic production, with some countries pushing to reduce production and others reluctant to commit.
• 😀 A new compromise was proposed, focusing on improving plastic design to reduce consumption, particularly of single-use plastics.
• 😀 Greenpeace and WWF criticized the influence of a few nations prioritizing short-term financial gains over environmental concerns.
• 😀 Scientists are concerned about the exponential increase in plastic production, which is expected to quadruple by 2060.
• 😀 Only 10% of plastics are recycled globally, leading to widespread waste and environmental harm, including the creation of microplastics.
• 😀 Health risks associated with plastics include potential carcinogenic effects and hormone disruption, which could affect fertility and weight levels.
• 😀 If a deal is not reached, there may be further negotiations or a vote, though consensus is typically preferred in UN environmental processes.

Q & A

What was the main reason the UN talks on waste plastics ended without a deal?

The main issue that caused the deadlock was the disagreement over the regulation of plastic production. Oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia favored lighter regulations, while other countries pushed for stricter controls, leading to a lack of consensus.

What was the initial deadline for the UN talks, and how long did they actually go on?

The initial deadline for the talks was set for December, but they continued well beyond that, extending into overtime. Negotiations were still ongoing when the talks failed to reach a final agreement.

What did the 'high ambition group' of almost 100 countries propose regarding plastic production?

The high ambition group proposed a compromise by dropping language around regulating production and instead focusing on improving plastic design to reduce consumption, particularly of single-use plastics.

Why did the oil-producing countries oppose the proposed compromise on plastic production?

Oil-producing countries, which rely on the production of plastics as a growth market for their oil industries, opposed the compromise because it would likely reduce demand for plastic, negatively impacting their economies.

What are some of the environmental and health concerns associated with plastics mentioned in the report?

Environmental concerns include plastic waste that often ends up in the environment, causing pollution and the breakdown of plastics into microplastics. Health concerns involve the chemicals in plastics, which can be carcinogenic or disrupt hormone production, affecting fertility and weight regulation.

What percentage of plastics are recycled globally, and what happens to the rest?

Only about 10% of plastics are recycled globally. The remaining plastics either end up as waste or are not properly managed, leading to environmental pollution and health risks.

What are microplastics, and why are they a concern?

Microplastics are small plastic particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastics. They are concerning because they are difficult for living organisms to distinguish from food, leading to potential ingestion, which can cause harm when they accumulate in tissues or organs.

What potential risks do the chemicals in plastics pose to human health?

The chemicals in plastics can be carcinogenic or act as endocrine disruptors, which interfere with hormone production and can lead to issues such as altered weight levels and reduced fertility.

What alternative outcomes were discussed in case a deal could not be reached in the UN talks?

If a deal could not be reached, alternatives included taking the issue to future negotiations or even pushing for a vote, though such a vote would be unusual in environmental UN processes. Another possibility was an agreement being made outside the UN process altogether.

How did environmental groups respond to the lack of a deal in the UN talks?

Environmental groups like Greenpeace and WWF expressed anger, accusing a small number of nations of dominating the talks and prioritizing short-term financial gains over addressing the key environmental issue of plastic waste.