Talks on global plastic pollution pact starts in S.Korea amid differences

Talks have started among countries on the first-ever United Nations treaty to reduce plastic pollution amid a split in views on the pact.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution began the final-stage of talks on Monday in Busan, South Korea.

Global plastic waste generation hit 353 million tons in 2019, more than double the amount produced in 2000. A resolution adopted at the UN Environment Assembly in 2022 calls for the committee to finish its work for a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024.

One focal point is restrictions on plastic output. The European Union and African countries are among those calling for the introduction of uniform regulations on plastic production.

The idea faces opposition from China, India and countries that produce petroleum — a material used to manufacture plastic.

Committee Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso presented a draft before the talks. It avoids concrete descriptions on production restrictions, and notes that countries should be obliged to take measures to prevent plastic leakage into the environment.

At a general meeting on Monday, oil-producing countries and other nations opposed proceeding with negotiations based on the draft. They said participants should also discuss what the treaty should cover in the first place.

The talks will continue through Sunday.

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