Plastic treaty talks draw to a close with production limits still under debate
Negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close as nations continue debating whether part of that should be putting limits on plastic production
BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close Sunday as nations continue debating whether part of that should be putting limits on plastic production.
Negotiators spent all of Saturday trying to reach agreement behind closed doors, but the latest draft of the treaty, released Sunday afternoon, leaves the question to be settled in open session. It includes multiple options for several key sections.
For the most contentious of those — the proposal to limit production — that includes a compromise that would set a target at a later conference and an option to drop the idea altogether.
Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic. Plastic production could climb about 70% by 2040 without policy changes.
