World Leaders Fail to Reach Agreement on Global Plastics Treaty, Plan to Continue Talks [Video]

Efforts by nations to come to an agreement on a global plastics treaty failed on Monday. While more than 100 countries sought to put a limit on the world’s plastics production — in addition to tackling recycling and cleanup — oil and gas companies were only prepared to address the problem of plastic waste.

The meeting in Busan, South Korea was supposed to be the last, but negotiations will continue into 2025, reported The Associated Press.

“It is clear that there is still persisting divergence,” said Inger Andersen, the United Nations Environment Programme’s executive director, as Reuters reported.

The fifth meeting of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) ended with countries still far from establishing the fundamental scope of a global plastics treaty.

Putting a cap on plastic production, the management of “chemicals of concern” used in the plastics making process and plastic products, as well as financing for developing countries in implementing the treaty were the most …