On the 15th, UN Secretary-General Guterres, through his spokesperson, issued a statement expressing deep regret that negotiations on the 'Global Plastics Treaty' have ended without result.
He stated that despite sincere efforts from all parties, negotiations on an international legal instrument regarding plastic pollution (including plastic pollution in the marine environment) failed to reach a consensus. He welcomed member states’ continued commitment to combatting plastic pollution and maintaining determination to engage in the process, and, guided by a common goal, to advance the development of a treaty the world needs to tackle this difficult challenge, which poses a major threat to humanity and the environment.
The fifth resumed session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, convened to address plastic pollution, concluded on the 15th. This session lasted 11 days and, although two draft texts were put forward in the final phase of the conference in an attempt to bring different positions together, member states continued to disagree on key issues such as 'plastic production reduction' and 'chemical additives,' ultimately failing to achieve committee consensus.
Conference chair Wadivesso announced at the closing session that, at this stage, further advancement should not continue, and the Geneva negotiations were declared to have broken down.
Globally, about 400 million tons of plastic are produced each year, of which only a small portion is recycled; most ends up in landfills or flows into the ocean.