VE Day: what remains of the world order of 80 years ago?
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ITV News
10 minutes ago
- ITV News
Plastic pollution treaty talks fail to reach agreement
Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global plastic pollution crisis ended talks on Friday, without reaching an agreement. Delegates, who worked through the night in an extended session at the United Nations office in Geneva, say they failed to find an "acceptable outcome". They remain deadlocked over whether the treaty should reduce the exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. Oil and gas-producing nations and the plastics industry oppose production limits, instead calling for a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse. "We are sorry to see that we, despite your efforts to bring us closer, will not be able to finalise negotiations on an acceptable outcome. We now have to explore our options going forward," said Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Norway. This round of negotiations was supposed to be the final round, and to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the oceans. But just like at the last meeting in South Korea last year, they're leaving without a treaty. Two drafts were proposed by the chair of the negotiation committee, but the representatives from 184 countries did not agree to use either one as the basis for the negotiations. No further action is being proposed at this stage on the latest draft, and next steps have not been decided yet, as delegates continue to meet on Friday. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall said the European Union and its member states had higher expectations for this meeting, and while the draft falls short of their demands, it provides a good basis for further negotiating sessions. "The Earth is not ours only," she said. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfill that duty." One of the drafts released on Friday did not include a limit on plastic production, but recognised current levels of production and consumption are "unsustainable". The objective of the treaty was revamped to state that the accord would be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. Each country came to Geneva with a lot of 'red lines,' said Magnus Heunicke, the Danish environment minister. 'To be very clear, a compromise means that we have to bend our red lines,' he said. In 2025, the world is expected to consume more than 500 million tonnes of plastic, according to the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP). It says the equivalent of 2,000 rubbish trucks of plastic are being dumped into the world's oceans, rivers and lakes every single day. In addition, 13 million tonnes of plastic accumulate in the soil annually Unlike natural materials, plastic does not decay; it merely continues to break down into smaller and smaller pieces known as microplastics. Once in the environment, microplastics persist indefinitely and are virtually impossible to remove. Despite a growing awareness of the problem, plastic pollution has continued to increase, with the World Wildlife Fund warning that global plastic pollution could triple by 2040 without immediate action.
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Negotiators in Geneva remain deadlocked on plastic pollution treaty
Nations were meeting for an 11th day at the United Nations office in Geneva to try to complete a landmark treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis. They remain deadlocked over whether the treaty should reduce exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. The negotiations at the UN hub were supposed to be the last round and produce the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the oceans. But just like at the meeting in South Korea last year, they are leaving without a treaty. Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chairman of the negotiating committee, wrote and presented two drafts of treaty text in Geneva based on the views expressed by the nations. The representatives from 184 countries did not agree to use either one as the basis for their negotiations. Mr Valdivieso said on Friday morning as the delegates reconvened in the assembly hall that no further action is being proposed at this stage on the latest draft. Delegates are still meeting and have not decided on next steps yet. Representatives of Norway, Australia, Tuvalu and others nations said they were deeply disappointed to be leaving Geneva without a treaty. European commissioner Jessika Roswall said the European Union and its member states had higher expectations for this meeting and while the draft falls short on their demands, it is a good basis for another negotiating session. 'The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfil that duty,' she said. Saudi Arabia said both drafts lacked balance, and Saudi and Kuwaiti negotiators said the latest proposal takes other states' views more into account and addressed plastic production, which they consider outside the scope of the treaty. Activists stage a protest during the talks (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) That draft, released early on Friday, did not include a limit on plastic production, but recognised that current levels of production and consumption are 'unsustainable' and global action is needed. New language had been added to say these levels exceed current waste management capacities and are projected to increase further, 'thereby necessitating a co-ordinated global response to halt and reverse such trends'. The objective of the treaty was also revamped to state that the accord would be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. The biggest issue of the talks has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things such as better design, recycling and reuse. Powerful oil and gas-producing nations and the plastics industry oppose production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse. Every year, the world makes more than 400 million tons of new plastic, and that could grow by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. About 100 countries want to limit production. Many have said it is also essential to address toxic chemicals used to make plastics. Thursday was the last scheduled day of negotiations, but work on the revised draft continued into Friday. Science shows what it will take to end pollution and protect human health, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden's University of Gothenburg who coleads the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. The science supports addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, beginning with extraction and production, and restricting some chemicals to ensure plastics are safer and more sustainable, she said. 'The science has not changed,' she said. 'It cannot be down negotiated.' Environmentalists, waste pickers and indigenous leaders and many business executives travelled to the talks to make their voices heard. Some used creative tactics, but are leaving disappointed. Indigenous leaders sought a treaty that recognises their rights and knowledge.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Negotiators in Geneva remain deadlocked on plastic pollution treaty
They remain deadlocked over whether the treaty should reduce exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. The negotiations at the UN hub were supposed to be the last round and produce the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the oceans. But just like at the meeting in South Korea last year, they are leaving without a treaty. Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chairman of the negotiating committee, wrote and presented two drafts of treaty text in Geneva based on the views expressed by the nations. The representatives from 184 countries did not agree to use either one as the basis for their negotiations. Mr Valdivieso said on Friday morning as the delegates reconvened in the assembly hall that no further action is being proposed at this stage on the latest draft. Delegates are still meeting and have not decided on next steps yet. Representatives of Norway, Australia, Tuvalu and others nations said they were deeply disappointed to be leaving Geneva without a treaty. European commissioner Jessika Roswall said the European Union and its member states had higher expectations for this meeting and while the draft falls short on their demands, it is a good basis for another negotiating session. 'The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfil that duty,' she said. Saudi Arabia said both drafts lacked balance, and Saudi and Kuwaiti negotiators said the latest proposal takes other states' views more into account and addressed plastic production, which they consider outside the scope of the treaty. Activists stage a protest during the talks (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) That draft, released early on Friday, did not include a limit on plastic production, but recognised that current levels of production and consumption are 'unsustainable' and global action is needed. New language had been added to say these levels exceed current waste management capacities and are projected to increase further, 'thereby necessitating a co-ordinated global response to halt and reverse such trends'. The objective of the treaty was also revamped to state that the accord would be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. The biggest issue of the talks has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things such as better design, recycling and reuse. Powerful oil and gas-producing nations and the plastics industry oppose production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse. Every year, the world makes more than 400 million tons of new plastic, and that could grow by about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. About 100 countries want to limit production. Many have said it is also essential to address toxic chemicals used to make plastics. Thursday was the last scheduled day of negotiations, but work on the revised draft continued into Friday. Science shows what it will take to end pollution and protect human health, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden's University of Gothenburg who coleads the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. The science supports addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, beginning with extraction and production, and restricting some chemicals to ensure plastics are safer and more sustainable, she said. 'The science has not changed,' she said. 'It cannot be down negotiated.' Environmentalists, waste pickers and indigenous leaders and many business executives travelled to the talks to make their voices heard. Some used creative tactics, but are leaving disappointed. Indigenous leaders sought a treaty that recognises their rights and knowledge.
