Deadlocked plastics treaty talks at cliff edge
Global plastic treaty negotiations at a crossroads
Philippines rolls out new waste‑payment law
As negotiators bite the abyss of last‑minute compromises, the Philippines is hoping a fresh law that obliges big companies to cover waste solutions will tip the scale toward cleaner oceans.
- Negotiators from 184 countries remain riven Wednesday on how to curb plastic pollution.
- Less than 36 hours before Buddhists and diplomats were slated to deliver a binding global treaty, ministers have arrived in Geneva to try to break the deadlock.
- Diplomats are “at the edge of a cliff” according to an official observer.
Like‑Minded Group vs. high‑ambition bloc
The debate pits the Like‑Minded Group of oil‑producing countries, which refuse restrictions on the production of plastic, against a much larger high‑ambition bloc that favors such measures.
- David Azoulay of the Center for International Environmental Law expects the new summary text to be a “lowest common denominator” and “very weak.”
- Pamela Miller of IPEN says, “Negotiators are at the edge of a cliff.”
- Eirik Lindebjerg of WWF fears last‑minute compromises will produce a “bad deal.”
Calls for a strong treaty
Graham Forbes of Greenpeace echoes the sentiment that ministers must reject a weak treaty.
- WWF has identified more than 150 countries in favor of a ban on certain plastics and toxic products.
- Other observers point out that industrial transformations in producing countries aren’t being listened to.
- Alekandar Rankovic from The Common Initiative says, “It can’t work.”
Plenary meeting scheduled
A new draft of the treaty text, streamlined by the talks chair, is expected later Wednesday. A plenary meeting to take stock of where things stand is scheduled for 7:00 pm (1700 GMT).
