August 18, 2025|
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|4 months agoGeneva Plastics Treaty Negotiations Collapse Amid Industry Pressure
International efforts to create binding treaty on plastic pollution fail in Geneva, with experts citing lobbying from oil and plastic-producing countries as key obstacle.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Negotiations for a binding plastic pollution treaty collapsed in Geneva at 6:00 AM on Friday after ten days of talks.
- A bloc of oil- and plastic-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and China, opposed production limits.
- Switzerland is part of a 'High Ambition Coalition' led by Norway and Rwanda advocating for a 2040 production reduction target.
- The breakdown follows a previous failure during negotiations in Busan, South Korea, in December.
By The Numbers
400 million tonnes
Annual global plastic production
Less than 10%
Global plastic recycling rate
Triple
Projected increase in plastic production by 2060
185
Number of delegations present
They Said
"We will not have a treaty on plastic pollution here in Geneva."
"Some countries have not come here to finalise a text but to do exactly the opposite: block any attempt to advance a viable treaty."