Countries fail to reach agreement in UN plastic talks

The Manila Times

Countries fail to reach agreement in UN plastic talks  Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, December 2, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil-producers were prepared only to target plastic waste.  The fifth UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting intended to yield a legally binding global treaty in Busan, South Korea, was meant to be the final one. However, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of a treaty and could agree only to postpone key decisions and resume talks, dubbed INC 5.2, to a later date.  An option proposed by Panama, backed by more than 100 countries, would have created a path for a global plastic production reduction target, while another proposal did not include production caps.   REUTERS VIDEO  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #themanilatimes #worldnews #unitednations #plastic

Transcript

00:00Here in Busan, we have made progress by making and walking paths.

00:07Throughout our achievements so far are important, they remained still insufficient.

00:14While our work has focused on finding points of contact, the famous landing zones,

00:21we have succeeded in many areas. However, there are critical matters that still need to be agreed.

00:31But nevertheless, there is a degree of structure to what this text could potentially be,

00:37and that forms an important next step for what will be 5.2.

00:44And it is clear that there is still persisting divergence, that is the reality of these negotiations.

00:49A treaty that lacks these elements and only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable.

00:57Those most affected by plastic pollution must be supported in the development of inclusive and equitable pathways forward.

01:07It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail.

01:14Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiation do not postpone the crisis.

01:24So I think we spent two and a half years sort of going around in circles in these negotiations,

01:30and while we are incredibly disappointed that we did not land a meaningful agreement here in Busan,

01:35I think the silver lining is that more than a hundred countries representing billions of people

01:39stood up for the type of treaty that will reduce plastic production, protect human health,

01:46and finance the transition that is going to be desperately needed to address the plastic pollution crisis.

02:09For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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