An attempt to finalize the world’s first legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution collapsed in its final stage during last month’s United Nations summit in South Korea. Representatives from over 200 nations convened at this forum, aiming to address the environmental and human health impacts posed by plastic waste, but disagreements over production limits derailed the negotiations.
A coalition of 100 member states advocated for including restrictions on new plastic production as part of the treaty. These calls for such measures come amid a rise in global plastic production, which currently exceeds 460 million metric tons annually –– the equivalent weight of 571 Golden Gate Bridges. Projections suggest this figure could surge 70% by 2040 if no action is taken.
According to the United Nations, over 8 billion tons of plastic have been produced globally since 1950, but less than 10% has been recycled. Each year, 20 million metric tons of plastic waste –– roughly the weight of 60 Empire State Buildings –– enter the environment.
However, a minority group of oil-producing nations, led by Russia and Saudi Arabia, rejected any treaty that would include plastic production caps, citing the potential for them to suffer disproportionate economic consequences as a result.
Kuwait, one of the members of this opposition, argued that the treaty should focus on eliminating plastic pollution rather than plastic production.
Environmental organizations expressed frustration over the failure to reach an agreement. A Plastic Planet condemned it as an “outrage,” highlighting research linking chemicals in plastics to rising rates of fertility decline, youth cancer cases, Alzheimer’s disease, autism and heart disease.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) urged willing nations to move forward without the dissenting countries, warning that delays risk exacerbating environmental harm and diminishing momentum for a comprehensive treaty.
With negotiations stalled in South Korea, the 2024 deadline for adopting a plastic pollution treaty initially set in 2022 by 175 countries will now no longer be realized as planned. Although, despite this setback, participating countries are expected to reconvene for further discussions in 2025.
