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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Plastic pollution deal now appears adrift
THE collapse on Friday of a sixth round of UN talks aimed at curbing plastic output has dimmed hopes of tackling a key source of pollution and left many advocates of restrictions pessimistic about a global deal during the Trump administration. A three-year global push to reach a legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution choking the oceans and harming human health now appears adrift, participants said. Many states and campaigners blamed the failure on oil-producers, including the United States, which they said hardened long-held positions and urged others to reject caps on new plastic production that would have curbed output of polymers. Debbra Cisneros, a negotiator for Panama, which supported a strong deal, said the United States, the world's number two plastics producer behind China, was less open than in previous rounds conducted under Joe Biden's administration. "This time they were just not wanting anything. So it was hard, because we always had them against us in each of the important provisions," she said at the end of the 11-day talks. Anti-plastic campaigners saw little hope for a change in Washington's position under President Donald Trump, who in February signed an executive order encouraging consumers to buy plastic drinking straws. "The mentality is different, and they want to extract more oil and gas out of the ground," said Bjorn Beeler, International Coordinator at International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of more than 600 public-interest NGOs. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its positions and its role in the talks. US delegate John Thompson declined to respond to questions from a Reuters reporter on the outcome. A State Department spokesperson previously said each party should take measures according to its national context, while Washington has expressed concerns that the new rules could increase the costs of all plastic products. The Trump administration has also rolled back various US climate and environmental policies that it says place too many burdens on national industry. Earlier last week, Washington also flexed its muscle in talks about another global environmental agreement when it threatened measures against states backing a proposal aimed at reducing shipping emissions. For a coalition of some 100 countries seeking an ambitious deal in Geneva, production limits are essential. Fiji's delegate Sivendra Michael likened excluding this provision to "mopping the floor without turning off the tap". For each month of delays, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said nearly a million tonnes of plastic waste accumulates — some of which washes up on the beaches of island states. Some participants also blamed organisers, the International Negotiating Committee (INC), a UN-established body supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). A low point was a formal meeting an hour before the negotiations were set to conclude at midnight on Thursday which lasted less than a minute and was then adjourned until dawn, prompting laughter and jeering from delegates. "Everyone was in shock as no one understood," said Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director for environmental group GAIA. "It's almost like they were playing with small children." France's ecology minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher called proceedings "chaotic". Asked what went wrong, INC chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso blamed the rift between countries and called the negotiations complex. "But we have advanced and that's important," he said. UN provisional rules require all states to agree — a constraint that some see as unworkable, especially under a US administration that is retreating from multilateralism. "Consensus is dead. You cannot agree a deal where all the countries who produce and export plastics and oil can decide the terms of what the deal is going to be," said IPEN's Beeler. Some delegates and campaigners suggested introducing voting to break the deadlock or even for the UN-led process to be abandoned altogether. The WWF and others called on ambitious states to pursue a separate deal, with the hope of getting plastics-producing nations on board later. Two draft deals emerged from the talks — one more ambitious than the other. Neither was adopted. It is unclear when the next meeting will take place, with states merely agreeing to reconvene at a later date.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Tough US stance casts gloom over plastics pollution deal
ANALYSIS GENEVA (Reuters) -- The collapse on Friday of a sixth round of UN talks aimed at curbing plastic output has dimmed hopes of tackling a key source of pollution and left many advocates of restrictions pessimistic about a global deal during the Trump administration. A three-year global push to reach a legally-binding treaty to curb plastic pollution choking the oceans and harming human health now appears adrift, participants said. Many states and campaigners blamed the failure on oil-producers including the United States, which they said hardened long-held positions and urged others to reject caps on new plastic production that would have curbed output of polymers. Debbra Cisneros, a negotiator for Panama, which supported a strong deal, told Reuters, the United States, the world's number two plastics producer behind China, was less open than in previous rounds conducted under Joe Biden's administration. "This time they were just not wanting anything. So it was hard, because we always had them against us in each of the important provisions," she said at the end of the 11-day talks. Anti-plastic campaigners saw little hope for a change in Washington's position under President Donald Trump, who in February signed an executive order encouraging consumers to buy plastic drinking straws. "The mentality is different, and they want to extract more oil and gas out of the ground," said Bjorn Beeler, International Coordinator at International Pollutants Elimination Network, a global network of over 600 public interest NGOs. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its positions and its role in the talks. US delegate John Thompson declined to respond to questions from a Reuters reporter on the outcome. A State Department spokesperson previously said that each party should take measures according to its national context, while Washington has expressed concerns that the new rules could increase the costs of all plastic products. The Trump administration has also rolled back various US climate and environmental policies that it says place too many burdens on national industry. Earlier last week, Washington also flexed its muscle in talks about another global environmental agreement when it threatened measures against states backing a proposal aimed at reducing shipping emissions. For a coalition of some 100 countries seeking an ambitious deal in Geneva, production limits are essential. Fiji's delegate Sivendra Michael likened excluding this provision to "mopping the floor without turning off the tap." For each month of delays, the World Wildlife Fund said nearly a million tons of plastic waste accumulates -- some of which washes up on the beaches of island states. Some participants also blamed organizers, the International Negotiating Committee, a UN-established body supported by the UN Environment Program. A low point was a formal meeting an hour before the negotiations were set to conclude at midnight on Thursday which lasted less than a minute and was then adjourned until dawn, prompting laughter and jeering from delegates. "Everyone was in shock as no one understood," said Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director for environmental group GAIA. "It's almost like they were playing with small children." France's ecology minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher called proceedings "chaotic." Asked what went wrong, INC chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso blamed the rift between countries and called the negotiations complex. "But we have advanced and that's important," he said. UN provisional rules require all states to agree -- a constraint that some see as unworkable, especially under a US administration that is retreating from multilateralism. "Consensus is dead. You cannot agree a deal where all the countries who produce and export plastics and oil can decide the terms of what the deal is going to be," said IPEN's Beeler. Some delegates and campaigners suggested introducing voting to break the deadlock or even for the UN-led process to be abandoned altogether. The WWF and others called on ambitious states to pursue a separate deal, with the hope of getting plastics-producing nations onboard later. Two draft deals emerged from the talks - one more ambitious than the other. Neither was adopted. It is unclear when the next meeting will take place, with states merely agreeing to reconvene at a later date. One positive development was that top plastics producer China publicly acknowledged the need to address the full-life cycle of plastics, said David Azoulay, Managing Attorney of the Center for International Environmental Law's Geneva Office. "This is new, and I think this opens an interesting door."
Saudi Gazette
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
OIC, Arab League and African Union issue emergency appeal on Gaza humanitarian crisis
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the African Union (AU) — the tripartite mechanism to support the Palestinian cause — held a consultative meeting with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Cairo to discuss the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The tripartite mechanism issued an emergency humanitarian appeal calling for an immediate end to genocide, starvation, blockade, displacement, and destruction, and urged efforts to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza. They expressed deep concern over the unprecedented and worsening humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip due to the continued acts of genocide, forced displacement, and systematic destruction committed by the Israeli occupation since October 2023. These actions represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They also firmly condemned the Israeli occupation's use of starvation and siege as weapons of war against Palestinian civilians. They called for the immediate and permanent opening of all land and sea crossings and the unimpeded, adequate, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, clean water, fuel, medical supplies, and shelter. They emphasized that delivering relief to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a legal and moral right, and underscored the urgent need to enable UNRWA to fulfill its critical role amid exceptional conditions and its ongoing financial crisis. The tripartite mechanism urged the international community to apply effective and sustained pressure on Israel, the occupying force, to allow UNRWA and its partners to operate freely, safely, and without obstruction. They further rejected any attempts to undermine or replace UNRWA's mandate, and called for full political, financial, and legal support for the agency in accordance with its UN-established responsibilities.
Libyan Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Party official dismisses US-Libya migration deal rumours
BY Libyan Express May 09, 2025 - 23:16 Updated: May 09, 2025 - 23:18 Voice of the People Party: No truth to Trump statements on Libya Engineer Abdulsalam Fouad Al-Gritli, Head of the International Relations Office and Official Spokesperson for the Voice of the People Party, has stated that recent decisions issued by the Presidential Council, most notably the activation of the High National Referendum Commission, aim to enable Libyan citizens to voice their opinions on key issues, including the dissolution of the House of Representatives and constitutional implementation. Speaking to the Libyan Express , Al-Gritli confirmed that these initiatives face strong opposition from political parties that stand to lose from such changes, specifically mentioning the House of Representatives and certain Presidential Council partners. He noted that the UN-established advisory committee has completed its report, which he expects will soon receive Security Council approval. This development would clear the path for parliamentary elections and the formation of a crisis government during a transitional period, preparing for eventual constitutional adoption. On the migration issue, Al-Gritli emphasised that resettling illegal immigrants in Libya represents a 'red line' that cannot be crossed, and denied the existence of any official agreements on this matter. He dismissed circulating reports about migration resettlement as merely a 'media stunt' designed to disrupt Libya's political landscape. Al-Gritli further rejected claims of any official statement from US President Donald Trump regarding Libya, emphasising that American policy is not determined by individual decisions, and that legitimate official positions must come through appropriate channels and institutions. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Al Jazeera
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
ICJ opens hearings on Israeli obligations on Gaza humanitarian crisis
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has opened hearings to gauge Israel's responsibility for the humanitarian crisis engulfing Gaza during its war against Hamas. The hearings, which began on Monday in The Hague and will run throughout the week, follow a request last year from the United Nations General Assembly asking the court to assess Israel's responsibility to ensure the provision of essential supplies to Gaza. Since the start of the war 18 months ago, Israel has blocked aid, leaving Palestinians facing severe shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine. Over the next five days, 38 countries – including the United States, China, France, Russia and Saudi Arabia – will address the 15-judge panel to consider how Israel's actions comply with international law. The League of Arab States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and African Union will also present their arguments about Israel's obligations to ensure aid reaches Gaza. Top Palestinian official Ammar Hijazi told the judges that Israel was blocking aid to use as a 'weapon of war'. No food or medical supplies have reached the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip since March 2 when Israel imposed what has become its longest ever blockade of the territory. It was followed two weeks later by the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. 'These are the facts. Starvation is here. Humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war,' Hijazi said. The ICJ has been tasked by the UN with providing an advisory opinion 'on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency'. While no immediate ruling is expected, the court's advisory opinion will likely shape future international legal approaches. However, it is nonbinding, meaning its impact depends on whether states choose to enforce or ignore it. The ruling 'will likely be ignored by Israel, as it has done with other judgements from the ICJ, the International Criminal Court and other international legal bodies,' Al Jazeera's Rory Challands said, reporting from The Hague. However, he added that 'the tide of pressure is mounting' on Israel as a growing list of international courts have ruled against its actions. What the UN is saying, Challands noted, is that 'Israel basically has a twofold obligation here under international law. It has an obligation as an occupying power in the Palestinian territories … That includes children's education and welfare systems, medical facilities, including UN-established hospitals, and humanitarian relief operations. If it doesn't do those things, then it's in contravention of its obligations under international law.' 'It also has an obligation as a signatory to the UN Charter, because under that, the UN has immunities and exemptions that set it apart from other institutions and other multilateral organisations', Challands continued. The ICJ will consider the positions of both state actors and international organisations in its deliberations. However, it will not hear from Israeli representatives directly. Rather, Tel Aviv has submitted written advice and objections. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to the opening of the hearings by branding them 'part of a systematic persecution and delegitimisation of Israel' in comments to reporters in Jerusalem. 'It is not Israel that should be on trial. It is the UN and UNRWA,' he insisted, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel is preventing from delivering aid to Gaza.
