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UN to Thrash Out Global Plastic Pollution Deal as Crisis Escalates
Geneva, August 2025 — The United Nations is set to resume critical negotiations this week in Geneva in a bid to thrash out a landmark treaty aimed at ending global plastic pollution. The meeting, attended by representatives from over 170 nations, marks the latest round of talks under a UN mandate established in 2022 to create the world’s first legally binding agreement on plastic waste.
With plastic production expected to triple by 2060 unless drastic action is taken, the urgency surrounding the negotiations has intensified. Currently, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with at least 14 million tonnes ending up in the world’s oceans each year — harming marine life, contaminating food chains, and worsening climate change.
Deep Divisions Remain
Despite broad consensus that plastic pollution is a planetary crisis, countries remain deeply divided on the path forward. A coalition of nations, including Norway, Rwanda, and EU members, are pushing for strict caps on plastic production and a ban on certain single-use plastics. These countries argue that without controlling the root cause — excessive production — any attempt to manage waste will fail.
On the other hand, major oil-producing countries and plastic manufacturers, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and China, are advocating for a more flexible, voluntary approach that focuses on recycling technologies and waste management rather than binding production limits.
“Plastic pollution is out of control, and the world cannot afford half measures,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). “This treaty must address the entire life cycle of plastics — from design and production to waste disposal and environmental recovery.”
Civil Society Pushes for Stronger Action
Environmental groups and scientists are calling on negotiators to adopt an ambitious and enforceable treaty. Many warn that the current trajectory of talks risks being watered down by powerful corporate lobbies and geopolitical interests.
“We are facing a plastic tsunami,” said Graham Forbes of Greenpeace. “We need an agreement that actually reduces plastic production — not just manages the pollution after the damage is done.”
A growing number of citizens are also demanding action. Protests and awareness campaigns have erupted in major cities around the world, as public pressure mounts for governments to prioritise health and environmental concerns over industrial profits.
What’s at Stake
The UN treaty could reshape the future of global consumption and waste management. If successful, it would be the most significant environmental accord since the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Negotiators hope to finalise the treaty by the end of 2025, with implementation beginning in 2026. However, success hinges on bridging the deep rift between countries that view plastic as an essential economic commodity and those that see it as an environmental catastrophe in the making.
As delegates head into another tense week of talks, one thing is clear: the world is watching — and the future of our oceans, wildlife, and human health may hang in the balance.
Attached is a news article regarding UN trash out plastic pollution deal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2kem4plr5o.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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