Contrary to their excuses, ambitious countries have the power and the pathways to forge a treaty to end the global plastic crisis. What we are severely lacking right now, however, is the determination of our leaders to do what is right and to fight for the treaty they promised the world two years ago.

Every day that governments allow polluters to continue flooding the world with plastic, we all pay the price,” said one campaigner. Environmental groups on Sunday decried the conclusion of a United Nations summit designed to secure an international treaty to combat plastic pollution after powerful oil- and gas-producing nations refused to agree to production limits

Global leaders convening from 25 November to 1 December to conclude negotiations on an international, legally binding plastic pollution agreement

A summit many hoped would yield a landmark treaty to tackle a global plastic pollution crisis ended in disappointment after oil- and gas-producing countries pushed back on limiting production

Negotiations in South Korea for a global treaty on plastic waste stalemated over limits on plastic production and the elimination of harmful chemicals.

The meeting was the last stage in a two-year process, after more than 170 nations in March 2022 backed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution.

The negotiations in Busan, South Korea, were supposed to be the fifth and final round to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans, by the end of 2024.

Countries have failed to reach an agreement to stem plastic pollution after a small number of oil-rich nations resisted efforts to limit production.

Oil-producing countries were reportedly the key obstacle to finding common ground at the gathering in South Korea.

United Nations-backed talks for a global treaty to end plastic pollution wrapped up without an agreement in the early hours of Sunday 1. A new round of talks is expected in mid-2025. Negotiations foundered